<p><strong>Researchers</strong><span><strong>&nbsp;</strong></span><strong>Tereza Nešporová and Jaroslava Večerková from Brno's </strong><span><strong>RECETOX</strong></span><strong> explain why failures are also a valuable part of gaining knowledge, how they study the effects of chemical substances on the hormonal system, and why they apply their professional insights to their everyday lives.</strong></p><h5><strong>How did you get involved in research at RECETOX?&nbsp;</strong></h5><p><span><strong>Jaroslava:</strong></span> <span>I actually joined RECETOX by chance during my follow-up Master's studies in Environmental Chemistry, back when Professor Holoubek was still leading the institute. I wrote my thesis under Klára Hilscherová and simply stayed here ever since, except for a break during maternity leave. I have been part of her team the whole time, focusing on endocrine disruptors.&nbsp;What has changed over the years is the focus of our research. We used to study surface waters, particularly the presence of substances with endocrine-disrupting potential and their effects on organisms. Today, the research has shifted more toward humans and the interactions between chemical substances and the endocrine system.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span><strong>Tereza:</strong></span><strong> </strong><span>I came from a completely different field. I studied molecular biology and worked on chronic lymphocytic leukemia for my Master's thesis at CEITEC. I used genetic engineering methods such as CRISPR/Cas9 for gene editing—activating, suppressing, or completely removing genes.&nbsp;At the time, Klára Hilscherová’s group needed to create cellular models with increased production of deiodinase enzymes, which I still work on today. I had heard only positive things about the team, and when I finished my Master's degree, I wanted to move beyond my original field. The connection between hormones and neurodevelopment attracted me, and RECETOX became the obvious choice.&nbsp;</span></p><h5><strong>So you are in the same research team. How do you collaborate?&nbsp;</strong></h5><p><span><strong>Tereza:</strong></span><strong> </strong><span>We sit in the same office. And that’s probably the main thing (laughs).&nbsp;</span></p><p><span><strong>Jaroslava:</strong></span> <span>We discuss things a lot. Some mechanisms repeat across experiments, so we talk about how each of us evaluates data and why. We inspire each other, even though we do not directly collaborate on the same laboratory work.&nbsp;</span></p><h5><strong>How does your work differ?&nbsp;</strong></h5><p><span><strong>Tereza:</strong></span><strong> </strong><span>Our team is highly interconnected. We all work on developing assays for detecting endocrine-disrupting substances, specifically those affecting thyroid hormones. However, each of us focuses on a different part of the system.&nbsp;I focus on deiodinase enzymes, which regulate the activation and deactivation of hormones. Recently, I have been spending more time analyzing data and designing experiments than working directly in the laboratory.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span><strong>Jaroslava:</strong></span><strong> </strong><span>Within the team, I mainly participate in testing different types of samples—from individual chemicals and mixtures to real environmental samples such as household dust—using the assays mentioned above.&nbsp;It is important to note that chemicals can affect the hormonal system at different levels. They can bind to or block nuclear receptors, affect hormone transport in the bloodstream, or interfere with hormone metabolism. In the past, only one part of this process was monitored. Today, we aim to cover the full spectrum of these interactions.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span><strong>Tereza:</strong></span><strong> </strong><span>And that is crucial. A substance may appear negative in one test, yet affect another part of the system, producing a significant impact on the organism. That is why current research focuses on the entire range of possible mechanisms.&nbsp;</span></p><h5><strong>Why did you choose endocrine disruptors as your research topic?&nbsp;</strong></h5><p><span><strong>Jaroslava:</strong></span> <span>For me, it was more or less a coincidence while choosing my thesis topic. But it turned out to be a fascinating area, so I stayed with it.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span><strong>Tereza:</strong></span> <span>I had been interested in it for a long time. I also like that our work has a concrete outcome—we develop tests that can realistically be used in decision-making regarding the safety of chemical substances. Compared to my previous research, I feel this work has a much more direct application.&nbsp;</span></p><h5><strong>What about your PhD studies?&nbsp;</strong></h5><p><span><strong>Jaroslava:</strong></span><strong> </strong><span>My PhD studies are currently on hold. After maternity leave, I returned as a laboratory technician, and my project work gradually shifted away from my original doctoral topic.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span><strong>Tereza:</strong></span><strong> </strong><span>I am currently in the fourth year of my PhD studies. I also completed a research stay in Germany, where I learned to work with neuronal cells.&nbsp;As part of my studies, I focus mainly on deiodinases—the enzymes that act as the “on and off switches” of thyroid hormones. We are developing a test that can measure the effects of chemical substances on their activity.&nbsp;In addition, we are now studying how these substances affect neurons and their development, because proper thyroid hormone levels are crucial for nervous system development.&nbsp;</span></p><h5><strong>What is the most challenging aspect of laboratory work?&nbsp;</strong></h5><p><span><strong>Tereza:</strong></span><strong> </strong><span>Probably unpredictability. Cells do not always grow as expected, instruments have their bad days, and human error also plays a role. The important thing is to document all mistakes and complications and learn from them.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span><strong>Jaroslava:</strong></span> <span>I agree with Tereza. The biggest challenge is unpredictability. Cells are living systems and do not always behave the same way.&nbsp;</span></p><h5><strong>Can a career in science be combined with parenthood?&nbsp;</strong></h5><p><span><strong>Jaroslava:</strong></span> <span>At RECETOX, definitely. There is a great deal of flexibility, and managers are very supportive. When necessary, it is possible to work from home. We help each other a lot within the team.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span><strong>Tereza:</strong></span> <span>It also depends on the type of work and whether it can be planned according to your needs. Our team collaborates closely and tries to help one another whenever necessary. That is key. And when needed, data analysis and manuscript writing can also be done from home.&nbsp;</span></p><h5><strong>Is your work more routine or highly varied?&nbsp;</strong></h5><p><span><strong>Jaroslava:</strong></span> <span>Very varied. Laboratory work alternates with computer-based work. We are constantly learning new things. It is definitely not repetitive or boring, and that is what I enjoy about it.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span><strong>Tereza:</strong></span> <span>The only routine in my work is taking care of cell cultures. Otherwise, the work is constantly changing. That is also what I enjoy most about it.&nbsp;</span></p><h5><strong>What are the biggest challenges in your work?&nbsp;</strong></h5><p><span><strong>Jaroslava:</strong></span> <span>Data evaluation. Measuring something is one thing; evaluating and interpreting it correctly is another.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span><strong>Tereza:</strong></span> <span>Implementing new methods. And also those moments when you do everything correctly according to a published protocol, yet the results still do not match expectations.&nbsp;In science, you have to learn to accept that not everything works the first time. The important thing is not to give up, to continue optimizing, and to keep hoping for success.&nbsp;</span></p><h5><strong>What role should open science play?&nbsp;</strong></h5><p><span><strong>Tereza:</strong></span><strong> </strong><span>A huge one. If we had access to detailed protocols and original datasets, it would save enormous amounts of time and money during the implementation and optimization of new methods. Scientific papers often omit details that are actually critical for experimental success.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span><strong>Jaroslava:</strong></span><strong> </strong><span>It is also important to share failures. A negative result is still a result, and it can provide valuable information.&nbsp;</span></p><h5><strong>You are both mothers. Does your work influence your personal lives?&nbsp;</strong></h5><p><span><strong>Jaroslava:</strong></span><strong> </strong><span>Absolutely. For example, we pay close attention to washing fruit because of chemical treatments. I encourage my children to think about what they consume, what it contains, and where it comes from. We try to avoid plastics and consistently separate waste.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span><strong>Tereza:</strong></span> <span>Definitely. Even before having a child, I paid close attention to the composition of cosmetics, food, and other products. After becoming a parent, my caution multiplied.&nbsp;I was especially careful during pregnancy because a developing organism is most sensitive to harmful substances. Sometimes relatives raise their eyebrows at this, but when we have information firsthand, we cannot simply ignore it.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span><strong>Jaroslava:</strong></span> <span>We also pay attention to toys, clothing, and materials used in the home. It is a kind of professional deformation (laughs).&nbsp;</span></p><h5><strong>How can your research contribute from a broader perspective? How can others build upon it?&nbsp;</strong></h5><p><span><strong>Jaroslava:</strong></span> <span>We are gradually optimizing methods that may eventually be used routinely. That is probably our greatest contribution.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span><strong>Tereza:</strong></span> <span>Yes, our methods could help identify undesirable effects of substances before they reach the market, potentially leading to regulation of their production.&nbsp;</span></p><h5><strong>Would you like to continue working on this topic in the future?&nbsp;</strong></h5><p><span><strong>Jaroslava Večerková:</strong></span><strong> </strong><span>The topic of endocrine disruption is extremely interesting and very broad. The direction of research may change depending on current projects, but I would like to remain part of the team.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span><strong>Tereza Nešporová:</strong></span> <span>I am very interested in uncovering how substances affect human health, and I believe I will want to continue working in this area. I like how dynamic the research is and that it has direct practical applications. I do not mind change, but I am happy within this team and would like to stay. We work together as a well-coordinated group.&nbsp;</span></p>

Researchers Tereza Nešporová and Jaroslava Večerková: In science, we must learn to work with failure

<div><p><strong>Protein purification is a critical step in biopharmaceutical research, proteomics, and industrial biotechnology. It involves isolating a specific protein from complex biological mixtures while preserving its native structure and activity. Traditional methods such as precipitation or dialysis lack the precision required for high-purity protein isolation, especially when dealing with therapeutic targets or complex protein assemblies.</strong></p><p>High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) protein purification has transformed this field by providing high resolution, reproducibility, and speed, making it indispensable for both analytical and preparative workflows.</p></div><div><div><div><div><h3><strong>What is HPLC Protein Purification?</strong></h3><p>HPLC purification is based on the principle of selective interactions between proteins and the stationary phase under high-pressure liquid flow. The separation relies on differences in size, charge, hydrophobicity, or affinity of proteins toward the stationary phase material.</p><p>Unlike conventional low-pressure methods such as gel filtration or affinity batch purification, HPLC purification operates under high pressure (up to 6000 psi), enabling faster separation with enhanced resolution and quantitative recovery. It also offers precise control over parameters like gradient composition, pH, and temperature, minimizing variability between runs.</p><p>In contrast to traditional column chromatography, HPLC uses smaller stationary phase particles (3–10 µm), resulting in increased surface area and sharper <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.phenomenex.com/resources/knowledge-center/hplc-knowledge-center/how-to-reduce-peak-tailing-in-hplc"><strong>peak shapes</strong></a>, which are vital for protein purity assessment and scale-up purification.</p></div></div></div></div><div><div><div><div><h3><strong>Types of HPLC Used for Protein Purification</strong></h3></div></div></div></div><div><p>Different HPLC modes can be employed depending on the physicochemical properties of the target protein. Each method offers unique advantages in terms of selectivity and recovery.</p><h4><strong>Reversed-Phase HPLC (RP-HPLC)</strong></h4><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.phenomenex.com/techniques/hplc-reversed-phase"><strong>Reversed-Phase HPLC</strong></a> separates proteins based on hydrophobic interactions between the analyte and the stationary phase, typically C4, C8, or C18 silica-based columns. Proteins are eluted using gradients of organic solvents (usually acetonitrile or methanol) in the presence of volatile acids like formic or trifluoroacetic acid (TFA).</p><p>This method provides exceptional resolution and is commonly used for protein fragment purification, and analysis of recombinant proteins. For example, reversed-phase HPLC is routinely employed in peptide therapeutic workflows, such as the<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/an59280424_w_fc6c3ac6f0.pdf"><strong> Tirzepatide Preparation and Purification </strong></a>process, where purity and recovery are critical to product efficacy. However, due to exposure to organic solvents, RP-HPLC may cause partial denaturation, limiting its use for native proteins.</p><h4><strong>Ion Exchange HPLC (IEX-HPLC)</strong></h4><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.phenomenex.com/techniques/hplc-sec"><strong>IEX-HPLC</strong></a> separates proteins based on net surface charge. Cation exchange (with negatively charged stationary phases) binds positively charged proteins, while anion exchange does the reverse.</p><p>By gradually increasing salt concentration or changing the mobile phase pH, proteins are eluted according to their isoelectric points (pI).By gradually increasing salt concentration or changing the mobile phase pH, proteins are eluted according to their isoelectric points (pI).</p><p>This approach is highly suitable for native purification, protein isoform analysis, and charge variant characterization essential steps in therapeutic protein production.</p><h4><strong>Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC-HPLC)</strong></h4><p>SEC separates molecules based on their hydrodynamic radius. Larger proteins elute first, as they are excluded from the pores of the stationary phase, while smaller molecules penetrate and elute later.</p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.phenomenex.com/techniques/hplc-sec"><strong>SEC-HPLC</strong></a> is non-denaturing and ideal for determining protein molecular weight, oligomeric state, and aggregate content. It is frequently used as a final polishing step following ion exchange or affinity chromatography.</p><h4><strong>Affinity HPLC</strong></h4><p>Affinity-based HPLC leverages specific biological interactions between the target protein and a ligand immobilized on the stationary phase (e.g., antibodies, metal ions, or tags such as His-tag or GST).</p><p>When integrated into an HPLC system, affinity chromatography provides high selectivity and purity (&gt;95%) in a single step, often used in recombinant protein purification and biomarker capture applications.</p></div><div><div><div><div><h3><strong>Benefits of Using HPLC for Protein Purification</strong></h3><p>HPLC-based protein purification combines the analytical precision of chromatography with the preparative capability needed for research and biomanufacturing. The main advantages include:</p><h5><strong>Benefit &nbsp;/ &nbsp;Description</strong></h5><p><strong>High Resolution and Selectivity:</strong></p><ul><li>Smaller stationary phase particles and optimized flow dynamics allow HPLC to resolve proteins differing by minimal physicochemical properties. This precision is vital for distinguishing isoforms, mutants, and post-translationally modified variants.</li></ul><p><strong>Accuracy and Reproducibility</strong></p><ul><li>Automated systems maintain stable flow rates, gradient control, and detection sensitivity, ensuring reproducible results essential for regulated biopharmaceutical workflows.</li></ul><p><strong>Speed and Efficiency</strong></p><ul><li>Modern UHPLC systems equipped with fully porous or core–shell particles achieve faster separations without sacrificing resolution, reducing run times by up to 50% compared to classical methods.</li></ul><p><strong>Compatibility and Scalability</strong></p><ul><li>HPLC systems are highly adaptable, supporting both analytical-scale characterization and preparative-scale purification. Methods developed at microgram scale can be seamlessly transferred to milligram or gram scales used in process development.</li></ul><div><div><div><div><h3><strong>Factors Affecting the Efficacy of Protein Purification by HPLC</strong></h3></div></div></div></div><div><p>Optimizing HPLC for protein purification requires balancing purity, recovery, and throughput. The following parameters significantly influence results:</p><ul><li><strong>Purification goal:</strong> Define whether the priority is yield, purity, or throughput. Analytical separations prioritize resolution, while preparative runs emphasize recovery and process speed.</li><li><strong>Protein solubility and stability:</strong> Unstable or aggregation-prone proteins may require low temperatures or additives (e.g., glycerol, mild detergents).</li><li><strong>Column chemistry and particle size:</strong> Select appropriate stationary phase chemistry (silica, polymeric, or mixed-mode) and particle size to suit molecular weight and hydrophobicity.</li><li><strong>Mobile phase pH and ionic strength:</strong> pH should be optimized near but not at the protein’s pI; salt gradients influence both resolution and elution strength.</li><li><strong>Flow rate and gradient profile:</strong> Steeper gradients shorten run time but may compromise separation quality.</li><li><strong>Purified protein final form:</strong> Consider buffer composition and concentration for storage or downstream assays to maintain bioactivity.</li></ul></div><div><div><div><div><h3><strong>Best Practices for Protein Purification by HPLC</strong></h3></div></div></div></div><div><p>Following good chromatographic practices ensures consistent, high-quality results:</p><ul><li><strong>Column conditioning and storage:</strong> Always equilibrate new <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/products?category=48&amp;manufacturerItems=50"><strong>HPLC columns</strong></a> with 10 column volumes of buffer; store in appropriate solvent containing preservatives.</li><li><strong>Avoid protein precipitation:</strong> Maintain appropriate ionic strength and, when native state is desired, avoid exposure to denaturing solvents or high organic content.</li><li><strong>Prevent sample loss:</strong> Use low-protein-binding tubing and vials; minimize dead volume in the system.</li><li><strong>Troubleshooting:</strong><ul><li>Peak fronting - may indicate column overloading.</li><li>Peak broadening – may indicate column channeling.</li><li>Carryover – reduce by extending wash cycles or using stronger regeneration solvents.</li><li>Clogging – prefilter samples (0.22 µm) and periodically flush the system.</li></ul></li></ul></div></div></div></div></div>

Protein Purification by HPLC: Methods, Benefits, and Best Practices

<p><strong>Our Library never stops expanding. What are the most recent contributions to LabRulezLCMS Library in the week of 6th July 2026? Check out new documents from the field of liquid phase, especially HPLC and LC/MS techniques!</strong></p><blockquote><p><span style="font-size:20px;">👉 </span><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/library"><span style="font-size:20px;"><strong>SEARCH THE LARGEST REPOSITORY OF DOCUMENTS ABOUT LCMS AND RELATED TECHNIQUES</strong></span></a></p></blockquote><blockquote><p><strong>👉 Need info about different analytical techniques?</strong> Peek into <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://gcms.labrulez.com/library"><strong>LabRulezGCMS</strong></a> or <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library"><strong>LabRulezICPMS</strong></a> libraries.</p></blockquote><p>This week we bring you application notes by <strong>Agilent Technologies </strong>and<strong> Metrohm </strong>and posters by<strong> Shimadzu/ASMS, Thermo Fisher Scientific/ASMS </strong>and <strong>Waters Corporation/ASMS!</strong></p><h3><strong>1. Agilent Technologies: Determination of 41 Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Cosmetics</strong></h3><ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/an_captiva_emr_pfas_food_ii_cartridge_5994_9111en_agilent_be91861646.pdf"><strong>Full PDF for download</strong></a></li></ul><p>Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic compounds composed of highly stable carbon–fluorine (C–F) bonds, giving them exceptional thermal and chemical stability, leading to poor environmental degradability. PFAS have been used in cosmetics to provide water resistance, oil repellency, or application smoothness. The unintentionally presented PFAS residues in raw materials may remain in finished cosmetic products, and can be absorbed through the skin. Lip products and spray type products can also lead to inhalation or oral exposure to residues.<sup>1,2</sup>&nbsp;</p><p>Agilent Captiva EMR PFAS Food cartridges are designed to provide streamlined and comprehensive matrix removal after QuEChERS extraction for complex sample matrices, demonstrating effective matrix cleanup efficiency and excellent performance for quantitative PFAS analysis.<sup>3,4</sup> In this study, we performed QuEChERS extraction followed by cleanup with Captiva EMR PFAS Food II cartridges for PFAS analysis in five types of cosmetics.</p><h4><strong>Experimental</strong></h4><h5><strong>Equipment and materials&nbsp;</strong></h5><p>The study was performed using an <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=10&amp;search=1290+Infinity+III"><strong>Agilent 1290 Infinity III LC</strong></a> system consisting of an Agilent 1290 Infinity III high-speed pump (G7120A), an Agilent 1290 Infinity III multisampler (G7167B), and an Agilent 1290 Infinity III multicolumn thermostat (G7116B). The LC system was coupled to an <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=10&amp;search=6495D"><strong>Agilent 6495D triple quadrupole LC/MS system</strong></a> (G6495D) equipped with an Agilent Jet Stream Electrospray ion source. Agilent MassHunter Workstation software was used for data acquisition and analysis.&nbsp;</p><p>The 1290 Infinity III LC system was modified using an Agilent InfinityLab PFAS Analysis HPLC conversion kit (part number 5004-0006), including an Agilent InfinityLab PFC delay column, 4.6 × 30 mm (part number 5062-8100). Chromatographic separation was performed using an Agilent <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=10&amp;search=ZORBAX+RRHD+Eclipse+Plus"><strong>ZORBAX RRHD Eclipse Plus</strong></a> C18, 95 Å, 2.1 × 100 mm, 1.8 µm (part number 959758-902).</p><h4><strong>Results and discussion&nbsp;</strong></h4><h5><strong>Chromatography and calibration curve linearity&nbsp;</strong></h5><p>Figure 2 shows the overlaid chromatograms for 41 PFAS calibration standards, including 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 5.0, and 10.0 ng/mL in ACN. The table on the right shows the peaks identification and corresponding retention time. Across 41 PFAS compounds, R² values ranged from 0.9940 to 0.9998, indicating excellent linearity for all analytes' calibration curves across the calibration range of 0.05 to 10.0 ng/mL.</p><h5><strong>PFAS detection in real cosmetic samples&nbsp;</strong></h5><p>Of the 15 cosmetic products assessed, one eyeshadow sample was detected with a trace level of positive PFAS analytes, including PFHeA, PFHpA, PFNA, and PFOA, at about 0.1 ng/g in the sample. Figure 5 shows the method blanks and positive detection of PFHpA and PFNA in this eyeshadow&nbsp;product.</p><h4><strong>Conclusion&nbsp;</strong></h4><p>A simplified, rapid, and reliable method using QuEChERS extraction followed by EMR mixed-mode passthrough cleanup using the Agilent Captiva EMR PFAS Food II cartridge and LC/MS/MS detection was developed for 41 PFAS analysis in cosmetics.</p><h3><strong>2. Metrohm: brightRC – Advanced brightener analysis with a response curve</strong></h3><p><strong>Next-level brightener determination in nonlinear systems</strong></p><ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/an_v_242_download_83376b2923.pdf"><strong>Full PDF for download</strong></a></li></ul><h4><strong>WHAT IS BRIGHTRC?&nbsp;</strong></h4><p>brightRC is a response curve calibration approach for the determination of brightener-type additives by CVS or CPVS (Cyclic Pulse Voltammetric Stripping), hence the name «brightRC». This technique is suitable to measure brightener content in copper baths for plating. The method is based on signal normalization using the electrolyte value, which is the response for the virgin makeup solution (VMS) saturated with suppressor, and brightener defined as Q0 in the viva software. All recorded signals are divided by Q0 and the normalized values are plotted against concentration to generate an external calibration curve. This calibration can then be used for routine sample determination without repeated standard additions.&nbsp;</p><p>The sample is simply measured using the same method as the calibration, signals are normalized and evaluated using the mathematically fitted calibration curve. By decoupling calibration from sample measurement, brightRC removes the need for repeated standard additions with each sample measurement, enabling faster and more efficient routine analysis.&nbsp;</p><p>The brightRC calibration approach supports flexible regression models including quadratic and nonlinear regression. This allows reliable quantification of additive systems that do not exhibit a wide linear working range or exhibit nonlinear response characteristics, thereby expanding the range of applicable brightener chemistries.&nbsp;</p><p>One important detail that further differentiates brightRC from the MLAT approach relates to normalization of the signal for calibration and sample analysis. This normalization approach improves measurement robustness as variations in absolute signal intensity naturally occurring over the working day are mathematically compensated.</p><h4><strong>HOW DOES BRIGHTRC WORK IN PRACTICE?&nbsp;</strong></h4><p>The brightRC workflow separates calibration and sample analysis. It can be implemented in different setups (from manual to fully automated) depending on the additive system and concentration range. After recording the electrolyte value, calibration standards are measured to establish the calibration curve, otherwise known as the response curve. Once the calibration is stored, samples are determined with the same CVS or CPVS method, without further standard additions. The sample concentration is automatically calculated from the normalized signal using the calibration curve.&nbsp;</p><p>For sample measurement, viva 4.0 provides two practical approaches:&nbsp;</p><ol><li>«brightRC with solution exchange»&nbsp;</li><li>«brightRC with sample dilution» Both variants follow the same calibration principle and differ only in the sample handling strategy.</li></ol><h4><strong>WHEN TO USE BRIGHTRC?&nbsp;</strong></h4><p>brightRC is ideal for routine brightener control in stable plating baths where high sample throughput is required. It is particularly suitable when matrix conditions are consistent and electrode fouling is limited. The approach is especially advantageous for additive systems exhibiting nonlinear signal behavior. If strong matrix variations, significant breakdown products, or severe electrode fouling are expected and a linear correlation between signal and analyte concentration is guaranteed, standard addition techniques such as MLAT are preferred because they may provide additional robustness.</p><h3><strong>3. Shimadzu / ASMS: PFAS Analysis of Leachate: Evaluating Key Sample Preparation and LC–MS/MS Parameters for Improved Performance</strong></h3><ul><li>Poster</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/WP_255_PFAS_Analysis_of_Leachate_Evaluating_Key_Sample_Preparation_and_LC_MSMS_Parameters_for_Improved_Performance_1114ee264c.pdf"><strong>Full PDF for download</strong></a></li></ul><p>Landfill leachate is a highly complex and variable matrix that poses significant challenges for the analysis of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Although U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Method 1633A provides a standardized framework for PFAS quantitation,1 analytical performance remains strongly influenced by sample preparation, chromatographic separation, and mass spectrometric conditions. Landfill leachate samples were extracted using WAX SPE following EPA 1633A and analyzed by LC–MS/MS using a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=1&amp;search=LCMS-8060"><strong>Shimadzu LCMS-8060</strong></a><strong> </strong>under negative ESI conditions. This study evaluates the key factors governing LC–MS/MS sensitivity, signal response, and reproducibility in landfill leachate, including a systematic assessment of SPE, chromatographic behavior, and ionsource conditions across PFAS classes (Figure 1).</p><h4><strong>Results&nbsp;</strong></h4><p>Chromatographic performance was evaluated across four C18 columns (A–D) using peak area, height, asymmetry, and HETP. Two columns produced a higher signal and improved peak shape, while the remaining columns showed greater efficiency. Under repeated batches followed by storage in acetonitrile, the Shimadzu GIST column produced a consistent signal (≤15% change), whereas another column showed 20–50% signal loss, particularly for long-chain PFAS and precursors, indicating greater susceptibility to matrix accumulation (Figure 2).</p><h4><strong>Conclusion&nbsp;</strong></h4><ul><li>PFAS analytical performance was dependent on compoundclass-dependent extraction, chromatography, and ionization behavior.&nbsp;</li><li>GIST demonstrated lower signal variability under repeated matrix exposure, with lower signal degradation than alternative C18 phases.</li><li>Neutral PFAS showed poor retention on WAX sorbents, requiring optimization beyond standard EPA 1633A extraction conditions.&nbsp;</li><li>PFCA response was more influenced by gas flow conditions, whereas PFSA response was more sensitive to source temperature conditions.</li></ul><h3><strong>4. Thermo Fisher Scientific / ASMS: Ultra-high throughput proteomics at &gt;500 samples/day using advanced </strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/products/398"><strong>Vanquish Neo UHPLC</strong></a><strong> methods with </strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/products/1959"><strong>Orbitrap Astral Zoom MS</strong></a></h3><ul><li>Poster</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/po_004708_lsms_ultra_high_throughput_vanquish_astral_proteomics_po004708_asms2026_na_en_f6499c3eec.pdf"><strong>Full PDF for download</strong></a></li></ul><p>High-throughput mass spectrometry is increasingly critical for large-cohort proteomics, population-scale studies, and screening applications. While established LC–MS platforms routinely support several hundred samples per day, further increases in throughput are often limited by chromatographic stability, robustness, and reproducibility under ultra-short gradient conditions, as well as the acquisition speed of the mass spectrometer. Here, we describe an advanced ultra-high-throughput LC–MS methodology developed on the Thermo Scientific Vanquish Neo UHPLC system and Thermo Scientific Orbitrap Astral Zoom mass spectrometer. The goal of this work was to extend the practical throughput limits of LC–MS while achieving deep proteome coverage and maintaining run-to-run reproducibility.</p><h4><strong>Materials and methods</strong></h4><h5><strong>LC-MS analysis&nbsp;</strong></h5><p>Samples were separated on a Thermo Scientific 150 µm × 70 mm C18 column (prototype, not commercially available yet) operated at 4 µL/min using a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/products/398"><strong>Vanquish Neo UHPLC system</strong></a> in NanoCap Trap&amp;Elute configuration at room temperature. Prototype methods allowing for reduced LC duty cycles (approx. 1 min of sample pickup/loading and integrated trap-column offline wash) were applied, the standard gradients were adjusted to 1 – 3 min. The Thermo Scientific PepMap Neo 5 µm C18 300 µm × 5 mm cartridge was used as trap column and the separation column connected with a 15 µm ID capillary Thermo Scientific EASY-Spray emitter (ES994) to an EASY-Spray source. The <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/products/1959"><strong>Orbitrap Astral Zoom MS</strong></a> (ICSW AST 2.2) was operated in a dataindependent acquisition (DIA) mode, MS method parameters are given in Table 1. Comparative data for the chemoproteomics samples at lower throughputs (60-300 SPD) were acquired using an EASY-Spray 150 µm × 150 mm C18 column (ES906), as described before.&nbsp;</p><h5><strong>Data analysis&nbsp;</strong></h5><p>The raw data files were processed with Spectronaut® 20.5 software (Biognosys AG), <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/products/1782"><strong>Thermo Scientific Proteome Discoverer </strong></a>3.3 SP1 with <strong>CHIMERYS 5.0 </strong>or DIA-NN Enterprise 2.3.2 (Aptila Biotech GmbH) nodes using default settings as specified in the individual figures. The data was searched against the Homo sapiens SwissProt database (TaxID=9606: 42,252 sequences) and contaminants FASTA file. Peptide numbers correspond to unique stripped peptides</p><h4><strong>Conclusions&nbsp;</strong></h4><ul><li>The advanced Vanquish Neo UHPLC methodology in combination with the Orbitrap Astral Zoom MS delivered highly reproducible, deep and precise proteome profiling across ultra-high-throughput regimes (600 SPD) exceeding current field benchmarks.&nbsp;</li><li>The workflow enables rapid chemoproteomic screening, as demonstrated with activity-based protein profiling (ABPP) samples, reliably identifying enriched putative target proteins of an antibiotic small molecule probe.</li></ul><h3><strong>5. Waters Corporation / ASMS: Assessing Relative Response of Four European-Regulated PFAS in Human Serum Using Cyclic Ion Mobility MS</strong></h3><ul><li>Poster</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/720009410_c98e7c87ec.pdf"><strong>Full PDF for download</strong></a></li></ul><div><div><section><div><div><div><div><div><div><p>The poster presents an LC-Cyclic-IMS-MS approach for assessing four European-regulated PFAS—PFOS, PFOA, PFNA, and PFHxS—in human serum. The study focuses on environmental exposure monitoring in Ghanaian firefighters and e-waste handlers, using ion mobility mass spectrometry to add separation power and improve identification confidence in complex biological matrices. The work is motivated by increasing regulatory concern around PFAS toxicity, bioaccumulation, and the need for reliable exposure assessment in human biofluids.</p><p>The experimental workflow combined reversed-phase LC with a quadrupole-cyclic ion mobility-time-of-flight MS system (<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/products/202"><strong>SELECT SERIES</strong> <strong>Cyclic IMS</strong></a>). Human serum samples were prepared using SPE µElution plates with a polymeric reversed-phase/weak anion exchange sorbent. The LC system was modified with PFAS-free components and an isolator column to reduce background contamination, which is especially important for trace-level PFAS analysis. Identification was supported by retention time, accurate mass, isotopically labelled internal standards, and collision cross section values.</p><p>The results showed detectable levels of the four regulated PFAS in both occupational groups, with a combined detection rate of 83% across human serum samples and NIST reference standards. Firefighter samples generally showed higher concentration ranges than e-waste handler samples, especially for PFOS, PFOA, PFNA, and PFHxS. For example, PFNA reached up to 5.713 ng/mL in firefighter serum, compared with up to 1.513 ng/mL in e-waste handler serum.</p><p>Overall, the poster concludes that LC-Cyclic-IMS-MS provides a highly specific strategy for PFAS analysis in complex biological samples. Ion mobility and CCS values improve confidence in trace-level identification and help distinguish target PFAS from co-eluting matrix background. The authors suggest that this approach can support both targeted PFAS monitoring and broader non-targeted screening of known and emerging PFAS, while also helping future studies connect exposure data with environmental fate and potential toxicological effects.</p></div></div></div></div></div></div></section></div></div>

News from LabRulezLCMS Library - Week 28, 2026

Article

Product

Application

Academy

Scientists

Poster

RECETOX (Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment) is an independent department of the Faculty of Science of Masaryk University in Brno, which has been established in 1983. RECETOX is focused on the research and education in cross-cutting area of Environment and Health. It addresses interactions among chemicals, environment, and biological systems, including consequences at local, regional, and global levels.

RECETOX - Centrum pro výzkum toxických látek v prostředí

Everything from the world of analytical chemistry in one place. We connect people in solving their problems. At Labrulez you will find all the necessary information easily, quickly and clearly. Stop searching and start finding.

LabRulez

Phenomenex is a global technology leader committed to developing novel analytical chemistry solutions that solve the separation and purification challenges of researchers in industrial, government and academic laboratories.

Phenomenex

Metrohm

Technology Networks

SelectScience

SCIEX

Waters Corporation

<p><strong>Join us for an exclusive two-day event where Agilent will showcase cutting-edge biopharma solutions.</strong></p>
<p>The first day of the event we will explore Agilent’s comprehensive portfolio for the spectrum of applications from drug discovery to quality control. Learn more about our cell analysis and genomics expertise and the tools we provide to drive IVT mRNA development, protein therapeutics and cell and gene therapies</p>
<p>The second day will focus on advanced analytical solutions, including HRMS for tRNA sequencing and LC/MS for DNA/RNA analysis. Learn how to scale up oligonucleotide purification with Agilent biocolumns, which enhance the efficiency and accuracy of your processes.</p>
<p>By attending this event you will:</p>
<ul>
<li><p><strong>Gain insights from Agilent to optimize biotherapeutic workflows, including rigorous quality testing in cGMP environments and handling nucleic acid, vaccines, mAB and protein samples.</strong></p>
</li>
<li><p><strong>Understand how metabolic analyses can impact CAR cell function and behavior, using cytolytic cell killing assays on the xCELLigence system to develop cell therapy processes and confirm product potency.</strong></p>
</li>
<li><p><strong>Learn about new techniques in high-resolution LC/MS for analyzing tRNA modifications.</strong></p>
</li>
<li><p><strong>Discover software tools available for high-resolution MS systems in both research and QA/QC labs.</strong></p>
</li>
<li><p><strong>Compare analytical and semipreparative LC purification methods for synthetic oligonucleotides, gaining competitive insights into purification strategies.</strong></p>
</li>
</ul>
<h5><strong>Talk 1: Agilent Tools and Technologies to Drive Advancements in Biopharmaceutical Drug Development</strong></h5>
<ul>
<li>Presented by Dr. Hervé Chaulet, Molecular and Biological Research Market Specialist, Agilent Technologies</li>
</ul>
<p>Discovering, developing, and manufacturing biopharmaceuticals requires you to stay abreast of advances in knowledge and improvements in technology while constantly navigating a maze of business and scientific challenges. Agilent can be a trusted partner providing expertise and end-to-end workflows including systems, software, consumables, and services for the spectrum of applications from drug discovery to quality control. Learn more about our cell analysis and genomics expertise and the tools we provide to drive IVT mRNA development, protein therapeutics, and cell and gene therapies.</p>
<h5><strong>Talk 2: Quality Control In IVT mRNA Therapeutics and Vaccine Development Workflow Using The Agilent Fragment Analyzer System</strong></h5>
<ul>
<li>Presented by Dr. Leslie Friedmann, Product Manager, Agilent Technologies</li>
</ul>
<p>Reliable and robust analysis is essential throughout in vitro transcription (IVT) mRNA workflows, providing important quality information to help minimize risk and aid in the production of a consistent product. The Agilent Fragment Analyzer systems can be used for several QC steps at different checkpoints in mRNA vaccine development, providing accurate and precise sizing and integrity analysis. These QC steps are to determine the quality and size of the linearized plasmid, the size and purity of the IVT mRNA, length of the poly(A) tail, and purity of the final mRNA vaccine product.</p>
<h5><strong>Talk 3: Analysis of NIST mAb Reference Material by Parallel SDS-Capillary Electrophoresis</strong></h5>
<ul>
<li>Presented by Dr. Kyle Luttgeharm, Product Manager, Agilent Technologies</li>
</ul>
<p>Monoclonal antibody drug products are complex biomolecules that must be tested for critical quality attributes (CQAs) such as monomeric purity and percent glycosylation. Capillary gel electrophoresis methods have been adopted as the standard method for size heterogeneity characterization, however legacy capillary electrophoresis (CE) methods involve complicated workflows or are cost prohibitive. To address these problems with legacy methods, Agilent has developed a 12-channel, parallel capillary electrophoresis-SDS (CE-SDS) instrument and reagents. The system uses a high-resolution sieving gel, allowing for resolution of mAb species including the non-glycosylated heavy chain and light chain. To demonstrate the capabilities of the ProteoAnalyzer, the NIST mAb was characterized under both reduced and non-reduced conditions and compared to the NIST data sheet.</p>
<h5><strong>Talk 4: Advanced Analytics for Cell Therapy Research, Process Development, and Manufacturing</strong></h5>
<ul>
<li>Presented by Dr. Kelly Kroeger, Science &amp; Technology Advisor, Agilent Technologies</li>
</ul>
<p>With immunology and immune-based therapies rising as a pillar of science and therapeutics, we are seeing a foundational shift from targeting specific proteins and pathways to actually targeting the immune cellular network that resolves and prevents disease. Therefore there is a critical need for cell analysis tools to facilitate understanding of the dynamic nature of the interaction of these cellular networks whether it is in the context of immune cells or immune cells with cancer cells.</p>
<p>To address these new challenges, we at Agilent Technologies have developed a portfolio of cell analysis solutions that provide researchers with more relevant tools to measure living cells, dynamically track them, and model their microenvironments. These next-generation therapies require methods and technologies to enable assessment of real-time cell function, phenotype, and fate. Used together, the Agilent tool bench provides the capability to measure and develop immune cell function more effectively, thus enabling translational researchers and developers to achieve the necessary level of potential therapeutic potency and safety.</p>


Technology Networks: Biopharma Innovations Summit

Biopharma Innovations Summit Day 1

Learn more about our cell analysis and genomics expertise and the tools we provide to drive IVT mRNA development.

<p><strong>This seminar will guide you through troubleshooting HPLC systems and chromatographic issues using a structured workflow.</strong></p><p>We will share a novel approach to emphasize the importance of system monitoring, as troubleshooting without monitoring is considerably more challenging. After introducing some key concepts and a troubleshooting workflow, we'll explore practical examples by applying the workflow to failed chromatograms to identify the cause of failure and then use a test cycle to confirm the fix.</p><p>Who should attend: Analysts working in regulated environments (eg. GLP, GMP) or in non-regulated environments (eg. R&amp;D) who want to troubleshoot their HPLC systems and chromatographic problems effectively.</p><h4>Key Learnings:</h4><p><strong>1. The importance of routine system monitoring</strong></p><p><strong>2. Using qualification checks to diagnose a failure</strong></p><p><strong>3. Understanding Failure Indicators (HOW the chromatogram failed) vs. Failure Causes (WHY the chromatogram failed)</strong></p><p><strong>4. Using troubleshooting workflows to quickly identify the failure cause</strong></p><blockquote><p><strong>Presenter: </strong>Maureen DeLoffi (Senior Product Manager, Waters COrporation)</p><p>Maureen DeLoffi is a Senior Product Manager at Waters Corporation, where she manages the small molecule portfolio of Analytical HPLC columns. Prior to her Product Manager role, she spent over 12 years as a scientist in the Column Technology Development Lab at Waters. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of New Hampshire.</p></blockquote>

Waters Corporation: HPLC Troubleshooting: A System Monitoring Approach

HPLC Troubleshooting: A System Monitoring Approach

Troubleshooting HPLC systems and chromatographic issues using a structured workflow.

<p><strong>Ion chromatography (IC) hyphenated with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) – IC-ICP-MS is the preferred solution for speciation analyses of trace elements such as chromium, arsenic, selenium, or mercury.</strong></p><p>In this webinar we focus on some key features of the integration of Metrohm IC with Agilent’s MassHunter software for ICP-MS. Based on practical examples such as chromium speciation according to ISO 24384, we demonstrate the benefits of bi-directional communication, real-time status updates, and a single, consolidated sample list streamlining your trace elemental analysis with a single-software solution.</p><h4>Key learnings of this webinar:</h4><ul><li><strong>Learn why IC is the method of choice for the separation of ionic components for subsequent quantification with ICP-MS</strong></li><li><strong>Explore the features that make Agilent ICP-MS a superior choice for speciation analysis</strong></li><li><strong>Understand the streamlined workflow for chromium speciation according to ISO 24384 using MassHunter ICP-MS</strong></li><li><strong>Understand the added value of inline sample preparation techniques available with Metrohm IC</strong></li></ul><h4>Who should attend?</h4><ul><li>Laboratory managers, analytical chemists, researchers doing trace elemental analysis</li></ul><blockquote><p><strong>Presenter: </strong>Dr. Elke Süss (Application Specialist Ion Chromatography, Metrohm International Headquarters)</p><p>Elke Süss received a M.Sc. in Geoecology and a Ph.D. in Environmental Geochemistry in 2011 from Bayreuth University, Germany. After a position as laboratory manager at Bayreuth University, she worked as a Research Assistant and then PostDoc at ETH Zürich and Eawag focusing on trace elemental speciation and has more than 10 years of experience with IC-ICP-MS in this field. In 2018, she joined the Ion Chromatography team at Metrohm International Headquarters in Switzerland as an Application Specialist.<br>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Presenter:&nbsp;</strong>Andrew Brotherhood (Atomic Spectroscopy Application Engineer, Agilent UK)</p><p>Andrew has over 15 years’ hands-on experience with ICP-MS, ICP-OES and Ion chromatography instrumentation. He has mainly worked in the pharmaceutical analysis industry gaining significant experience with developing and validating methods to pharma regulations.</p><p>Andrew started working for Agilent as a full-time employee in January 2018 working as an Atomic Spectroscopy Application Engineer based at the Agilent Centre of Excellence in the UK.</p></blockquote>

Metrohm: Simplify your speciation analysis: Metrohm ion chromatography meets Agilent ICP-MS

Simplify your speciation analysis: Metrohm ion chromatography meets Agilent ICP-MS

Key features of the integration of Metrohm IC with Agilent’s MassHunter software for ICP-MS.

Metrohm ion chromatography meets Agilent ICP-MS

<p><strong>Day one: Innovation and data insights</strong></p><ul><li>Discover how to achieve high sensitivity, speed, and resilience when working with large, complex sample sets</li><li>Learn strategies to speed up your covalent protein drug discovery</li><li>Gain insights into accelerating the development of multiple modalities</li><li>Understand the latest advancements in quantitative proteomics with ZT Scan DIA</li><li>Overcome limitations with cutting-edge artificial intelligence quantitation software</li></ul><p><strong>Agenda-at-a-glance</strong></p><p>Welcome and introduction to innovation and data insights&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Advancing robustness and serviceability of a high-end triple quad mass spectrometer in a high-throughput bioanalytical lab</strong></p><ul><li>Highly sensitive mass spectrometers allow the advanced bioanalytical labs of today to achieve the LOQ required of potent biologic drugs and provide maximum flexibility in choice of sample prep techniques. However robust mass spectrometers are crucial for several reasons:<ul><li>Aid in ensuring the consistent quantitative performance of an assay</li><li>Effectively allow a lab to meet their project timelines</li><li>Are essential for handling the inherent variability of analyzing diverse molecules and diverse samples required for bioanalysis</li></ul></li></ul><p><strong>The new fast in drug discovery: a new MS system to study covalent protein drugs</strong></p><ul><li>The combination of a super-fast sampling interface with the highly sensitive ZenoTOF 7600 system makes it an ideal system for evaluating covalent binding screens. Main findings in our experiments using the Echo® MS+ system:<ul><li>Speed: measurements from a full 384-well plate in 15 min or 1536-well plate in less than one hour</li><li>Precision: low injection volume supports repetitive measurements and time series; capture full kinetic data set in one experiment</li><li>Quality: high data quality allows for full automated processing, delivering immediate hitlist output</li></ul></li></ul><p><strong>icIEF-UV/MS characterization of charge Isoforms for biotherapeutic products</strong></p><ul><li>Characterization of icIEF charge isoforms, whether in early product development or associated with licensure filings, is usually achieved through ion exchange (IEX) liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. icIEF-MS technology has recently emerged to enable the direct characterization of specific species in the icIEF electropherogram, eliminating the need for extensive method development.<ul><li>Discover opportunities to advance core platform technologies with novel characterization approaches</li><li>Hear case studies on understanding molecular structure information</li><li>New approaches to characterizing post-translational modifications of charge isoforms</li></ul></li></ul><p><strong>Expanding qualitative and quantitative sensitivity for immunopeptidomics using ZT Scan DIA</strong></p><ul><li>Learn how utilizing a research-grade Zeno-trap time-of-flight LC-MS system can advance current applications in immunopeptidomics and proteomics, including:<ul><li>What is ZT Scan DIA, the technology and how it benefits data acquisition</li><li>Preliminary proteomics and immunopeptidomics results using ZT Scan DIA</li><li>Future applications of immunopeptidomics using ZT Scan DIA</li></ul></li></ul><p><strong>Artificial intelligence quantitation (AI quant): molecular structure and mass spectral data quality driven processing of high-resolution mass spectrometry for quantitative analysi</strong></p><ul><li>High-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) has long sought to be a viable alternative for quantitative workflows but has been unable to broadly compete, mainly due to the lack of suitable data processing software. In this work we describe:<ul><li>A molecular structure-dependent workflow</li><li>The holistic and user-independent processesing of HRMS data</li><li>The automatic quantification of small drug-like molecules</li></ul></li></ul><p><strong>Q&amp;A roundtable: innovation and data insights with the experts</strong></p><ul><li>Moderated by: Jamie Wighton, Senior Director LC-MS Research, SCIEX</li><li>Panelists include:<ul><li>Rathna Veeramachaneni, Director, Biopharma LC-MS/MS, KCAS Bio</li><li>Xiaping He, Senior Scientist, Pfizer</li><li>Markus Stöckli, Senior Principal Scientist, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research</li><li>Tony Purcell, Professor, Monash University&nbsp;</li><li>Kevin Bateman, Retired Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics and Drug Metabolism Expert</li></ul></li></ul><blockquote><p><strong>Moderator:</strong> Jamie Wighton (Senior Director LC-MS Research, SCIEX)</p><p>Jamie joined SCIEX 20 years ago and has held multiple technical and leadership roles throughout his career at SCIEX. &nbsp;Starting out as an engineer in manufacturing operations, Jamie has since led teams in supply chain, product development, and most recently the research and product applications teams within R&amp;D. Prior to joining SCIEX, Jamie worked at JDS Uniphase as an optical test engineer.</p><p>Jamie holds a B.Sc. in engineering physics from Queen’s University.</p><p><strong>Presenter:</strong> Rathna Veeramachaneni (Director, Biopharma LC-MS/MS, KCAS Bioanalytical)</p><p><strong>Presenter:</strong> Markus Stöckli, Senior Principal Scientist, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research</p><p><strong>Presenter: </strong>Xiaoping He, Senior Scientst, Pfizer</p><p><strong>Presenter: </strong>Tony Purcell, Professor, Monash University</p><p><strong>Presenter: </strong>Kevin Bateman, Retired Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics and Drug Metabolism Expert</p></blockquote>

SCIEX summit Day one: Innovation and data insights

Importance of LC-MS in food and environmental testing, pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical discovery and development and biomedical and omics research.

<h4><strong>The Waters 2024 Virtual Summer School - An Educational Journey to Master Food &amp; Environmental Analysis</strong></h4><p>Unlock the full potential of LC-MS techniques with our immersive and educational sessions at the Waters Virtual F&amp;E Late Summer School 2024. From September 24th to 26th, engage with leading experts and discover cutting-edge methods for environmental and food analysis.</p><h5><strong>Why attend?</strong></h5><ul><li><strong>Comprehensive Learning:</strong> Dive deep into advanced LC-MS techniques and gain practical knowledge to enhance your laboratory's analytical capabilities.</li><li><strong>Expert Insights:</strong> Learn from industry leaders and gain firsthand experience through detailed modules on chromatography, mass spectrometry, and sample preparation.</li><li><strong>Regulatory Compliance:</strong> Stay ahead with the latest insights on EU regulations for PFAS analysis in food and water, ensuring your lab meets stringent standards.</li></ul><h3><strong>Episode #3: Introduction Non-target Screening (NTS) | F&amp;E Summer School - Day 1 - Module 3</strong></h3><p>Suspect and non-target screening (NTS) are crucial techniques used in various fields, including food analysis, environmental studies, toxicology, and doping analysis. In this overview, we’ll discuss a holistic approach and introduce high-resolution mass spectrometry methods for both Suspect and NTS screening. Topics covered include resolution, accurate mass data, and ion mobility.</p><p>In an ideal scenario, Suspect screening and non-Target screening are closely interconnected. Prior knowledge about a potential analyte (Suspect) can expedite the non-Target screening process. We’ll briefly explore Suspect screening and how high-resolution mass spectrometry offers identification criteria for confidently identifying suspect compounds.</p><p>Further, we examine the data gathered for non-target compounds through high-resolution mass spectrometry. In this module we give a concise introduction to the valuable data that can be compiled for assigning structures. In the forthcoming module 4b we will delve into how this data, in conjunction with the tools offered by the waters_connect software, can be conveniently accessed by the user and provide more comprehensive insights.</p><h5><strong>What you'll learn:</strong></h5><ul><li>What is Screening? (Target/ Suspect &amp; Non-Target Screening)</li><li>Basics of HRMS (Resolution and accurate mass)</li><li>Identification criteria for Targets /Suspects &amp; UNIFI Scientific Library</li><li>Tools for Non-Target Screening</li><li>Short introduction of exemplary instrument types</li><li>Xevo G3 QToF for Routine Screening</li><li>Xevo MRT for Screening with very high-resolution and very high mass accuracy</li><li>Select Series Cyclic IMS for Screening with ion-mobility utilizing CCS-values</li></ul><blockquote><p><strong>Presenter:&nbsp;</strong>Christoph Thomas (Principal Sales Applications Chemist, Waters Corporation)</p><p>Christoph Thomas is a Principal Sales Applications Chemist from the Central Europe Customer Success Team based in Eschborn, Germany. He has more than 25 years’ experience in the field of Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry and is familiar with several application areas using Quadrupole and Tof instruments. Within the last decade his projects were mainly focused on the waters_connect Screening Solution in food and environmental screening, toxicology screening, metabolite identification and in the field of extractables and leacheables.</p><p><strong>Presenter:&nbsp;</strong>Gunnar Weibchen (Principal MS Sales Dev Specialist, Waters Corporation)</p><p>Gunnar studied Chemistry and obtained a PhD in Organic and Analytical Chemistry in Hamburg. After working as an Application Chemist in the demo laboratory at Varian, has been with Waters in Sales and Marketing since 2010</p></blockquote>

Waters Corporation: The Waters 2024 Virtual Summer School

Introduction Non-target Screening (NTS)

We’ll discuss a holistic approach and introduce high-resolution mass spectrometry methods for both Suspect and NTS screening.

<h4><strong>The Waters 2024 Virtual Summer School - An Educational Journey to Master Food &amp; Environmental Analysis</strong></h4><p>Unlock the full potential of LC-MS techniques with our immersive and educational sessions at the Waters Virtual F&amp;E Late Summer School 2024. From September 24th to 26th, engage with leading experts and discover cutting-edge methods for environmental and food analysis.</p><h5><strong>Why attend?</strong></h5><ul><li><strong>Comprehensive Learning:</strong> Dive deep into advanced LC-MS techniques and gain practical knowledge to enhance your laboratory's analytical capabilities.</li><li><strong>Expert Insights:</strong> Learn from industry leaders and gain firsthand experience through detailed modules on chromatography, mass spectrometry, and sample preparation.</li><li><strong>Regulatory Compliance:</strong> Stay ahead with the latest insights on EU regulations for PFAS analysis in food and water, ensuring your lab meets stringent standards.</li></ul><h3><strong>Episode #4: Chromatography - APGC | F&amp;E Summer School - Day 1 - Module 4</strong></h3><p>Discover the advantages of GC coupled to MS under atmospheric pressure (Atmospheric Pressure GC/ APGC) as a powerful alternative to electron ionization (EI) for GC-MS. Gain a comprehensive understanding of the APGC technology and its operational principles. Explore why APGC offers higher sensitivity, selectivity, and robustness compared to traditional EI methods. Maximize versatility and efficiency by understanding how to achieve both LC and GC capabilities on the same MS system as well as using nitrogen as an alternative carrier gas.</p><h5><strong>What you'll learn:</strong></h5><ul><li>How APGC works</li><li>Enhanced performance over classic EI-GC</li><li>Ease of use and implementation in the lab</li><li>Usage of nitrogen as GC carrier gas</li></ul><blockquote><p><strong>Presenter:&nbsp;</strong>Frank L. Dorman, PhD, FRSC (Principal Environmental Market Manager, Waters Corporation)</p><p>Frank Dorman is currently Senior Business Development Manager for Waters focusing on their global environmental business and, concurrently, Associate Professor (adjunct) in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BMB) at Penn State University in University Park, PA. In his role at Waters, Frank manages the research-focused environmental market, external collaborations and also interfaces with R&amp;D for new product development. Prior to Waters, Frank was employed full-time as a tenure-line Faculty member of Penn State and served as a member of the Graduate Faculty in: Biochemistry, Microbiology and Molecular Biology (BMMB), Chemistry (CHEM) and the Programs in Forensics Science (FRNSC), and Biogeochemistry (BGC). Frank is also a member of the Center for Molecular Toxicology and Carcinogenesis at Penn State. Frank’s scientific interests are in gas and liquid chromatography fundamental characterization, instrumentation and column development, as well and mass spectrometry and atomic spectroscopy as applied to trace analysis in complex sample matrices. This work is directed towards environmental forensics, traditional forensic chemistry and where environmental exposure events may contribute to human disease; an area sometimes referred to as “exposomics”.</p><p>Prior to joining the faculty at PSU, Frank was at Restek Corporation for 14 years as the Director of Technical Development, and R&amp;D Senior Chemist. During most of this same time, Frank was also an Adjunct Research Professor at Juniata College where he maintained an active undergraduate research program. Prior to that he was at Inchcape Testing Services for 5 years as a Senior Chemist, Organics Section Manager for Sample Preparation and Corporate Methods Development Chemist. As such, Frank has extensive experience in both the Industrial and Academic sectors giving him a relatively rare combination of skills and experience.</p><p><strong>Presenter:&nbsp;</strong>Janitha De-Alwis (Senior Applications Chemist, European Applications Team, Food and Environmental, Waters Corporation)</p><p>JD has worked in the chromatography industry for over 10 years and has recently joined Waters Corporation as a senior applications chemist. Prior to joining Waters, JD managed a group at a leading food research and contract organisation. Here, JD helped the food, drink and associated industriesproactivelyand reactively in the area of chemical toxins.As a senior applications chemist, JD now develops new applications with Waters technologies and helps customers with their critical analytical challenges.</p></blockquote>

Chromatography - APGC

Discover the advantages of GC coupled to MS under atmospheric pressure (APGC) as a powerful alternative to electron ionization (EI) for GC-MS.

<h4><strong>The Waters 2024 Virtual Summer School - An Educational Journey to Master Food &amp; Environmental Analysis</strong></h4><p>Unlock the full potential of LC-MS techniques with our immersive and educational sessions at the Waters Virtual F&amp;E Late Summer School 2024. From September 24th to 26th, engage with leading experts and discover cutting-edge methods for environmental and food analysis.</p><h5><strong>Why attend?</strong></h5><ul><li><strong>Comprehensive Learning:</strong> Dive deep into advanced LC-MS techniques and gain practical knowledge to enhance your laboratory's analytical capabilities.</li><li><strong>Expert Insights:</strong> Learn from industry leaders and gain firsthand experience through detailed modules on chromatography, mass spectrometry, and sample preparation.</li><li><strong>Regulatory Compliance:</strong> Stay ahead with the latest insights on EU regulations for PFAS analysis in food and water, ensuring your lab meets stringent standards.</li></ul><h3><strong>Episode #5: General Sample Preparation | F&amp;E Summer School - Day 2 - Module 1</strong></h3><p>Sample preparation is a key aspect in the analytical workflow and heavily determines the quality of the analysis. Solid Phase Extraction is a fundamental sample preparation technique widely used across all areas of analytical chemistry. Whether new to SPE or seeking a refresher, this webinar will introduce the basics of sample preparation and provide practical insights and technical background on the benefits when choosing SPE over another form of sample preparation, especially for analytes in complex matrices, such as the ones often encountered in Food and Environmental analysis. Join us in exploring SPE key parameters and best practices for implementing successful SPE methods. The session will combine PowerPoint slides with videos describing good practices and showing a practical example on the complex analysis of PFAS.</p><p>Our guest speaker Chiara Sarti from Cranfield University, Bedford UK, will share her research results on the work with new dual layer cartridges to extract PFAS from different environmental samples.</p><h5><strong>What you'll learn:</strong></h5><ul><li>Understanding SPE fundamentals</li><li>Making SPE simple with water-wettable sorbents</li><li>Verifying successful SPE implementation</li></ul><blockquote><p><strong>Presenter:&nbsp;</strong>Xavier Rodríguez (Business Development Manager Chemistry Group, Southern Europe, Waters)</p><p>Xavier is part of the European Market Development Team. He works as an Application Specialist with focus on sample prep and has more than 20 years of experience in solving sample prep challenges.</p><p><strong>Presenter:&nbsp;</strong>Chiara Sarti (Ph.D. Student, Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence)</p></blockquote>

General Sample Preparation

Join us in exploring SPE key parameters and best practices for implementing successful SPE methods. 

<h4><strong>The Waters 2024 Virtual Summer School - An Educational Journey to Master Food &amp; Environmental Analysis</strong></h4><p>Unlock the full potential of LC-MS techniques with our immersive and educational sessions at the Waters Virtual F&amp;E Late Summer School 2024. From September 24th to 26th, engage with leading experts and discover cutting-edge methods for environmental and food analysis.</p><h5><strong>Why attend?</strong></h5><ul><li><strong>Comprehensive Learning:</strong> Dive deep into advanced LC-MS techniques and gain practical knowledge to enhance your laboratory's analytical capabilities.</li><li><strong>Expert Insights:</strong> Learn from industry leaders and gain firsthand experience through detailed modules on chromatography, mass spectrometry, and sample preparation.</li><li><strong>Regulatory Compliance:</strong> Stay ahead with the latest insights on EU regulations for PFAS analysis in food and water, ensuring your lab meets stringent standards.</li></ul><h3><strong>Episode #6: Automated Sample Preparation | F&amp;E Summer School - Day 2 - Module 2</strong></h3><p>This Module builds on the previous one by adding automation to the sample preparation methods. The Andrew+™ pipetting robot offers fully automated liquid handling using electronic pipettes and labware holders called Dominos for a full walk-away automation solution.</p><p>Creating the connected laboratory, Andrew+ is part of the OneLab™ ecosystem, executing laboratory protocols designed in OneLab software. This flexible architecture enables you to effortlessly transition from laborious manual pipetting procedures to error-free, fully-robotized lab workflows – without any knowledge of programming, laboratory robotics or automation engineering. and explains processes the Andrew+ pipetting robot can take over in your lab.</p><p>The European Union has adopted Commission Recommendation (EU) 2022/1431 to monitor PFAS in fruits, vegetables, milk and baby food. To achieve quantification at lowest levels of PFAS in food matrices, sample preparation is required which comprise of many pipetting steps and can be time-consuming and error prone. We will demonstrate an automate workflow for the analysis of PFAS in milk using a pipetting robot and stacked dual-phase SPE cartridges to meet EU 2022/1431 levels.</p><h5><strong>What you'll learn:</strong></h5><p>Possibilities to automat liquid handling processes in LC and LC-MS e.g.</p><ul><li>Serial dilution</li><li>Calibration curve</li><li>Solid Phase Extraction (SPE)</li></ul><blockquote><p><strong>Presenter:&nbsp;</strong>Xavier Rodríguez (Business Development Manager Chemistry Group, Southern Europe, Waters)</p><p>Xavier is part of the European Market Development Team. He works as an Application Specialist with focus on sample prep and has more than 20 years of experience in solving sample prep challenges.</p><p><strong>Presenter:&nbsp;</strong>Daniel Ng PhD (Principal Scientist, Waters Corporation)</p><p>Daniel Ng received his PhD from the University of Manchester in mass spectrometry proteomics. He worked for 5 years at the Waters mass spectrometry headquarters in Wilmslow, UK, as a service support development engineer specializing in mass spectrometry instrumentation. In 2019, he took up a new role as a principal scientist at the International Food and Water Research Centre (Waters) in Singapore focusing on using advanced instrumentation to answer analytical challenges in the food and water industry. Since 2023, Daniel has lead the Food, Environmental and Material Science Analytical Professional Service team in the Asia-Pacific Region, developing analytical solutions to meet key challenges that customers face.</p></blockquote>

Automated Sample Preparation

The Andrew+™ pipetting robot offers fully automated liquid handling using electronic pipettes and labware holders.

<h4><strong>The Waters 2024 Virtual Summer School - An Educational Journey to Master Food &amp; Environmental Analysis</strong></h4><p>Unlock the full potential of LC-MS techniques with our immersive and educational sessions at the Waters Virtual F&amp;E Late Summer School 2024. From September 24th to 26th, engage with leading experts and discover cutting-edge methods for environmental and food analysis.</p><h5><strong>Why attend?</strong></h5><ul><li><strong>Comprehensive Learning:</strong> Dive deep into advanced LC-MS techniques and gain practical knowledge to enhance your laboratory's analytical capabilities.</li><li><strong>Expert Insights:</strong> Learn from industry leaders and gain firsthand experience through detailed modules on chromatography, mass spectrometry, and sample preparation.</li><li><strong>Regulatory Compliance:</strong> Stay ahead with the latest insights on EU regulations for PFAS analysis in food and water, ensuring your lab meets stringent standards.</li></ul><h3><strong>Episode #8: Instruments &amp; Software for Non-Target Screening | F&amp;E Summer School - Day 2 - Module 4</strong></h3><p>This session will focus on presenting in detail the data evaluation of HRMS-Screening experiments. Firstly, we will explain the data-independent acquisition modes MSE and HDMSE. We will describe an intelligent and efficient peak detection algorithm of the HRMS data. The waters_connect software supports us with several tools for the challenging non-Target screening. We will present a selection of discovery tools which collect additional information about the unknown masses to reduce the number of potential candidates. This includes a binary comparison to find differences between samples or the get information on common fragments etc. In addition, multivariate statistics can also be used as a powerful tool for identifying significant non-Target masses. Finally, the determination of the molecular formula of potential candidates and a possible search in online libraries will be presented.</p><h5><strong>What you'll learn:</strong></h5><ul><li>Data acquisition in depth (MSE, CCS)</li><li>waters_connect Software &amp; Intelligent Peak Detection</li><li>UNIFI App and Workflow</li><li>Binary Compare - find the Differences</li><li>Discovery Tools – Common Fragments, Mass defect filtering, Halogen Match and more</li><li>Multivariate statistics</li><li>Pattern Targeting Application</li></ul><blockquote><p><strong>Presenter:&nbsp;</strong>Christoph Thomas (Principal Sales Applications Chemist, Waters Corporation)</p><p>Christoph Thomas is a Principal Sales Applications Chemist from the Central Europe Customer Success Team based in Eschborn, Germany. He has more than 25 years’ experience in the field of Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry and is familiar with several application areas using Quadrupole and Tof instruments. Within the last decade his projects were mainly focused on the waters_connect Screening Solution in food and environmental screening, toxicology screening, metabolite identification and in the field of extractables and leacheables.</p><p><strong>Presenter:&nbsp;</strong>Gunnar Weibchen (Principal MS Sales Dev Specialist, Waters Corporation)</p><p>Gunnar studied Chemistry and obtained a PhD in Organic and Analytical Chemistry in Hamburg. After working as an Application Chemist in the demo laboratory at Varian, has been with Waters in Sales and Marketing since 2010</p></blockquote>

Software and Instruments for NTS

This session will focus on presenting in detail the data evaluation of HRMS-Screening experiments. 

<p><strong>Join this webinar to discover how HPTLC can enhance the reliability and efficiency of your edible oil quality assessments.</strong></p><p>Dr. Tiên Do, Chief Scientific Officer at CAMAG, and Paul Rogeboz, Junior Research Assistant at Nestlé Research will discuss how a newly developed HPTLC method was developed to identify edible oils. Find out how it was used to detect adulteration with remarkable accuracy.</p><p>Our experts will also explore the statistical validation of the method, its robust performance in interlaboratory studies, and its ability to identify adulteration levels from 5% to 25%.</p><h4>Key topics discussed in this webinar will include:</h4><ul><li><strong>Understanding HPTLC for oil authenticity: Gain insights into the principles and applications of high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) in ensuring edible oil authenticity</strong></li><li><strong>Method development and validation: Learn about the development of the untargeted fingerprint profiling method for detecting vegetable oil adulteration and the statistical validation processes for variability, detection limits, and reproducibility</strong></li><li><strong>Real-world application and robustness: Discover the robustness of the HPTLC method through interlaboratory studies and understand its practical applications in the food industry</strong></li><li><strong>Detection capabilities: Explore the method's ability to accurately detect adulteration levels ranging from 5% to 25%</strong></li></ul><h4>Who should attend?</h4><ul><li>Quality control professionals</li><li>Food industry researchers</li><li>Regulatory affairs specialists</li><li>R&amp;D teams</li><li>Food manufacturers</li><li>Lab technicians</li></ul><blockquote><p><strong>Presenter: </strong>Dr. Tiên Do (Chief Scientific Officer, CAMAG)</p><p>Dr. Tiên Do joined CAMAG in 2014 and became the Chief Scientific Officer in January 2024. In this role, she crafts and implements the organization's scientific vision, spearheading research and development efforts to propel scientific objectives forward. Additionally, she cultivates partnerships with academic and industry leaders to drive innovative collaborations. Prior to her current role, Dr. Do served as Head of Laboratory and Deputy Head of Laboratory.</p><p><strong>Presenter:&nbsp;</strong>Paul Rogeboz MSc (Junior Research Assistant, Nestlé Research)</p><p>Paul Rogeboz works at Nestlé Research in Switzerland as a Junior Research Assistant, specializing in HPTLC applications in the food safety field. In his role, he contributes to scientific application projects by developing novel effect-based toxicological analyses using HPTLC for decision-making. He is also involved in the qualification and implementation of HPTLC methodologies for the assessment of food matrices adulteration.</p><p><strong>Presenter:&nbsp;</strong>Carrie Haslam (Associate Editor, SelectScience)</p></blockquote>

SelectScience: Development of an HPTLC method for evaluating vegetable oil adulteration

Development of an HPTLC method for evaluating vegetable oil adulteration

How HPTLC can enhance the reliability and efficiency of your edible oil quality assessments.