At UC San Diego, researchers are using patient-derived brain organoids and spaceflight to explore whether aging-associated biology can be accelerated in orbit. With advanced proteomics enabled by the Thermo Scientific Orbitrap Astral Mass Spectrometer (MS), the team is gaining deeper insight into complex brain biology and new possibilities for studying neurodegenerative disease.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Thermo_Fisher_Scientific_Neuroscience_Takes_Flight_How_Collaboration_Spaceflight_and_Orbitrap_Astral_MS_Are_Opening_a_New_Window_into_Brain_Aging_6b56e04145.webp" alt="Thermo Fisher Scientific: Neuroscience Takes Flight: How Collaboration, Spaceflight, and Orbitrap Astral MS Are Opening a New Window into Brain Aging" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Thermo_Fisher_Scientific_Neuroscience_Takes_Flight_How_Collaboration_Spaceflight_and_Orbitrap_Astral_MS_Are_Opening_a_New_Window_into_Brain_Aging_6b56e04145.webp 245w," sizes="100vw" width="1024" height="512"><h3>Introduction</h3>Neurodegenerative diseases remain among the most difficult conditions to study. Researchers cannot easily or safely biopsy living brain tissue, and even sophisticated disease models can take years to reveal meaningful biological change. At UC San Diego, Drs. Aline Martins and Alysson Muotri are taking a different approach: creating patient-derived brain organoids from skin cells and sending them to space to explore whether low Earth orbit can accelerate aging-associated biology. Preliminary data suggest that 30 days in space may compress roughly 10 years of aging biology into a much shorter experimental window, opening the door to a faster path for understanding neurodegeneration and evaluating new therapeutic ideas.<h3>A study design built around biology</h3>The real power of this work begins with the study design. Rather than relying on generalized models, the researchers begin with skin cells from patients and generate 3D mini-brain organoids that can model diseases such as Alzheimer’s while preserving critical patient context. That gives the team a more human-relevant system for studying how aging and disease unfold over time. Spaceflight adds a second dimension: a research environment that is exceptionally difficult to reproduce on Earth, but one that may help reveal the molecular and cellular drivers of neurodegeneration faster than conventional studies allow. The Integrated Space Stem Cell Orbital Research (ISSCOR) Center at UC San Diego have begun to explore this broader approach to study how space-related stressors influence brain aging and cognitive decline, with potential relevance to diseases such as Alzheimer’s and dementia. Once those organoids return to Earth, the next challenge is extracting as much insight as possible from every sample.<h3>Enabling deeper insight from limited samples</h3>Brain organoids are inherently heterogeneous, with multiple cell subtypes that may respond differently to aging and environmental stress.To extract deeper biological insight from the organoid samples, the researchers describe the<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://labrulez.com/en-us/all/products/836"> Orbitrap Astral MS </a>as central to their investigation. They highlight that the high sensitivity required for single-cell proteomics is essential for revealing how the space environment affects distinct cell populations and the Orbitrap Astral MS helps unlock deeper biological insight.That distinction is important: the value of the Orbitrap Astral MS analytical workflow is not simply generating more data but importantly helping the team resolve more of the biology within a complex model.<h3>How Orbitrap Astral MS helps push biology further</h3>At Thermo Fisher Scientific, we work alongside researchers pursuing bold scientific questions by developing technologies that help them see deeper into complex biology.Aline describes Orbitrap Astral MS as a major advance for the sensitivity and resolution this research requires. Its synchronized data acquisition capabilities and parallel ion processing across dual high-resolution accurate-mass analyzers with maximized instrument utilization help deliver deeper coverage, higher sensitivity, faster throughput, and accurate, precise quantitation across demanding biological workflows.For studies like this one, those capabilities help researchers get more from limited sample material, uncover subtle disease-relevant changes, and translate an inventive experimental design into deeper biological insight, faster.<h3>Looking ahead</h3>The power of this research lies in the convergence of ideas. Patient-derived brain organoids offer a human-relevant model of disease. Spaceflight may serve as an aging accelerator. Advanced proteomics helps researchers understand what complex biological models are revealing with greater depth and clarity, while single-cell proteomics unlocks a view into cell-specific changes that can drive disease biology. Together, this approach could give scientists a faster and more informative way to study late-onset diseases such as Alzheimer’s and dementia. This initiative between UC San Diego and Thermo Fisher Scientific shows how collaborations across the scientific community can open new doors in neuroscience and accelerate discovery in ways that matter. As researchers continue to push the boundaries of what is possible, studies like this one point to a future where deeper biological insight can be reached faster and with greater potential to improve human health.<h3>Learn more</h3><ul><li>Listen to the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://corporate.thermofisher.com/us/en/index/newsroom/Our-stories/Brains-in-space.html">interview with Dr. Aline Martins</a> for more on the scientific vision behind this research and its implications for brain aging and neurodegenerative disease.</li><li>Learn more about <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.thermofisher.com/content/lifetech/global/en/home/industrial/mass-spectrometry/proteomics-mass-spectrometry/single-cell-proteomics.html">Thermo Fisher Scientific single-cell proteomics solutions</a> and how they help researchers gain deeper insight from limited and complex samples.</li><li>Explore the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://labrulez.com/en-us/all/products/836">Thermo Scientific Orbitrap Astral MS</a> and see how it helps researchers achieve deeper biological insight with faster throughput, higher sensitivity, and accurate, precise quantitation across advanced workflows.</li></ul><blockquote>Visit us on&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/72003132/admin/dashboard/">LinkedIn:</a>&nbsp;#BrainOrganoids #SpaceBiology #Neurodegeneration #OrbitrapAstralMS</blockquote>

Neuroscience Takes Flight: How Collaboration, Spaceflight, and Orbitrap Astral MS Are Opening a New Window into Brain Aging

Our Library never stops expanding. What are the most recent contributions to LabRulezLCMS Library in the week of 29th September 2026? Check out new documents from the field of liquid phase, especially HPLC and LC/MS techniques!<blockquote>👉 <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/library">SEARCH THE LARGEST REPOSITORY OF DOCUMENTS ABOUT LCMS AND RELATED TECHNIQUES</a></blockquote><blockquote>👉 Need info about different analytical techniques? Peek into <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://gcms.labrulez.com/library">LabRulezGCMS</a> or <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library">LabRulezICPMS</a> libraries.</blockquote>This week we bring you technical note by KNAUER, application note by Shimadzu and posters by Thermo Fisher Scientific / HPLC Symposium and Waters Corporation / AOAC!<h3>1. KNAUER: Efficient separation of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) from oil matrices using GPC</h3><ul><li>Technical note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://labrulez.com/pdf/VTN_00_XX_knauer_applichrom_gpc_f1d7f1a236.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>Phthalates are chemical compounds primarily used as plasticizers in polymers to enhance the flexibility and elasticity of materials such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) [1]. Since plasticizers are not covalently bound to the polymer chains, they have the potential to leach into the contacting media and contribute to contamination [2]. With the widespread and increasing use of plastic materials, the risk of phthalate release and human exposure continues to rise. As a result, and due to their potentially harmful effects on human health, phthalates have attracted growing scientific and regulatory attention in recent years [1]. Oil-rich food products can leach lipophilic phthalates from their packaging [3]. Throughout the production and packaging process, polymeric components such as tubing, containers, and caps may serve as potential sources of contamination. For the analysis of phthalates in such oil matrices, sample cleanup is an essential step. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC), based on sizeexclusion principles, is widely applied as an effective cleanup technique prior to subsequent analytical determination.<h4>MATERIALS &amp; METHODS</h4>The samples were dissolved in the eluent mixture and filtered through a 0.45 µm PTFE filter prior to analysis. For both olive oil and canola oil, an additional sample spiked with DEHP was prepared and likewise filtered before analysis. Chromatographic analysis was performed using an isocratic method with an eluent composition of ethyl acetate/heptane (50:50 v/v) at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. Detection was carried out by UV absorbance at 254 nm. The injection volume was 8 µL using a full-loop injection mode. The column temperature was maintained at 25°C. Separation was achieved on an AppliChrom® OleoSep column (10 µm, 300 × 8 mm). The <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://labrulez.com/en-us/all/products/1630">AZURA® Semi Preparative GPC System</a> was used.<h4>CONCLUSION</h4>GPC sample preparation is an effective approach for separating phthalates from high-molecular-weight matrices such as edible oils. In this study, the successful separation of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) from three different oil samples was demonstrated. Based on these results, it can be assumed that other phthalates with lower molecular weights (&lt; 390 Da) can also be effectively separated under same conditions. The KNAUER AZURA® GPC semi preparative system (Fig. 4) in combination with the AppliChrom® OleoSep GPC column provides a robust and efficient setup for sample preparation in phthalate analysis, offering rapid separation, high resolution, and minimal solvent consumption due to the short analysis time.<h3>2. Shimadzu: Analysis of Chloride and Sulfate Ions in Bioethanol Using the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://labrulez.com/en-us/lcms/library?mainauthorItems=1&amp;search=Nexera+IC">Nexera IC Ion Chromatograph</a></h3><ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://labrulez.com/pdf/an_01_01211_en_55cbf3e64f.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul><h5>User Benefits</h5><ul><li>Analysis of chloride and sulfate ions in fuel ethanol can be conducted in accordance with ASTM D7319-221) .</li><li>Accurate quantitative determination, exhibiting excellent linearity and repeatability, can be achieved at concentration levels significantly below the limits specified by the ASTM criteria.</li></ul>First-generation bioethanol produced from raw materials such as corn and sugarcane has been utilized to achieve carbon neutrality. However, research and development for second-generation bioethanol produced from non-food, cellulose-based raw materials is also underway to avoid competition with food crops. In Japan, eight companies, including Toyota Motor Corporation, have formed the “Research Association of Biomass Innovation for Next Generation Automobile Fuels” (raBit) to advance research on next-generation bioethanol technologies. Shimadzu participates as a supporting member and promotes research and development through analytical technology cooperation.&nbsp;It is known that the presence of chloride and sulfate ions in fuel ethanol can form engine residue, leading to reduced engine performance. ASTM D4806-252) specifies fuel ethanol quality as criterion of chloride ion must not exceed 6.7 mg/kg and that of sulfate ion must not exceed 4 mg/kg. ASTM D7319-22 includes test methods for chloride and sulfate ions in fuel ethanol using ion chromatography.&nbsp;In this application, we present an example of the analysis of chloride and sulfate ions in bioethanol using the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://labrulez.com/en-us/lcms/library?mainauthorItems=1&amp;search=Nexera+IC">Nexera IC</a> in accordance with ASTM D7319-22.<h4>Conclusion</h4>Chloride and sulfate ions in bioethanol were determined using a Nexera IC system in accordance with ASTM D7319-22. The method offers high sensitivity, linearity, and repeatability, enabling reliable quantification at concentrations well below ASTM-specified limits, thus supporting effective quality control and regulatory compliance of fuel ethanol.<h3>3. Thermo Fisher Scientific / HPLC Symposium: LC-MS analysis of intact and subunit-level mAb enabled by a novel monodisperse supermacroporous reversed-phase platform</h3><ul><li>Poster</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://labrulez.com/pdf/po_004763_ccs_surepac_protein_reverse_phase_mabs_separation_po004763_na_en_56199ec50d.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are structurally complex biotherapeutics that require multi-level analytical characterization to ensure product quality, safety, and efficacy. LC-MS analysis is routinely applied at the intact protein and subunit levels to assess molecular mass, heterogeneity, and structural integrity. Enzymatic subunit generation, such as IdeS digestion, enables targeted domain-level characterization while reducing analytical complexity compared to full peptide mapping. Achieving high-performance reversed-phase separations across intact and subunit-level workflows remains challenging, as chromatographic columns optimized for intact proteins often compromise performance of smaller subunits. Consequently, multiple columns are required to support comprehensive mAb characterization.&nbsp;In this study, we evaluate a reversed-phase separation column based on a novel 2.5 μm monodisperse supermacroporous (SMP) polymeric stationary phase for unified LC-MS analysis of monoclonal antibodies under intact, reduced, and IdeSdigested conditions. The SMP resin’s uniform particle size and highly accessible pore structure enable efficient separation of both small and large analytes, including intact mAbs, reduced subunits (LC and HC), and IdeS-generated fragments such as scFc and F(ab′)₂. Using the SurePac Protein RP MDi column, baseline separation of these species was achieved within a 10- minute gradient, providing a fast, all-in-one LC-MS approach for mAb variant characterization.<h4>Materials and methods</h4><h5>Instruments&nbsp;</h5><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://labrulez.com/en-us/all/products/744">Thermo Scientific Vanquish Horizon UHPLC system</a>; <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://labrulez.com/en-us/all/products/401">Thermo Scientific Orbitrap Exploris 480 mass spectrometer</a> with Thermo Scientific OptaMax NG ion source.&nbsp;<h5>Data analysis&nbsp;</h5>The UHPLC system with mass spectrometer were operated with <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://labrulez.com/en-us/all/products/1758">Thermo Scientific Xcalibur 4.7 software</a>. Full MS spectra of intact mAbs and mAb fragments were analyzed using Thermo Scientific Freestyle 1.8 and BioPharma Finder 5.4 software that utilizes the ReSpect and Xtract algorithms for molecular mass determination.<h4>Conclusions&nbsp;</h4><ul><li>A SurePac Protein RP column enabled a rapid (10 min) separation of mAb LC, HC, scFc, and F(ab′)₂ fragments, with major proteoforms identified by mass agreement.&nbsp;</li><li>The SurePac Protein RP column supports comprehensive intact and subunit-level mAb characterization in a single workflow, with strong separation performance across mAb fragments.</li></ul><h3>4. Waters Corporation / AOAC: IMPROVED PURIFICATION OUTCOMES FOR PROBLEMATIC COMPOUNDS USING AN INERT COLUMN WITH POLAR SORBENT</h3><ul><li>Poster</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://labrulez.com/pdf/720009616_AOAC_f65ea1b771.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul><div><div><section><div><div><div><div><div><div>Whether the goal is to obtain enough intermediate for the next step in a synthetic scheme, to polish a final product, or to create a suitable standard for compound identification, preparative liquid chromatography remains a primary technique for isolating compounds from complex mixtures. Recovering the target compound at the desired purity and yield in the least amount of time is of utmost importance.&nbsp;Polar targets that do not retain, or “sticky” compounds that seemingly disappear on the column are two groups that many consider to be ’problematic’ in purification. “Sticky” compounds, also known as non-specific adsorbers (NSAs), are metal-sensitive targets what can adsorb to positively charged metal surfaces in the LC system flow path and column, making them difficult to detect and collect effectively. Although other methods, such as column pre-conditioning, can be implemented for isolating compounds known to be interactive, this option can be time-consuming and lead to sample loss and excessive solvent waste.&nbsp;Although lab scale purifications in which tens to hundreds of milligrams of target compound are isolated from crude mixtures are still performed routinely, the trend toward smaller scale purification is becoming more prevalent. Laboratories are increasingly opting to isolate only a few milligrams of target compound for preliminary studies. Successful target candidates are then isolated in greater amounts to satisfy ensuing experiments. Whether the objective is to isolate a small amount of target compound for exploratory studies, or to purify greater amounts for their use as reference standards, a column which can resolve eluting impurities efficiently is required.&nbsp;Echinacea is an herbaceous flowering plant in the daisy family1,2 and is one of the most important medical herbs widely used to treat the common cold and other infectious diseases.3 One of the most abundant compounds in echinacea is chicoric acid (Figure 1), a phenylpropanoid and caffeic acid derivative.4,5 In this scale-up study, chicoric acid, a suspected “sticky” target polar compound was isolated from a complex echinacea tea extract using two inert XSelect HSS T3 MaxPeak Premier OBD Columns with different particle sizes and dimensions (3.5 μm 10 x 100 mm and 5 μm 10 x 150 mm). The MaxPeak Premier OBD preparative HPLC columns are considered ’inert’ because they are enabled with Waters High Performance Surface (HPS) Technology. The chicoric acid isolated using the 3.5 μm column was of equivalent UV purity to the product isolated using the 5 μm column, with a 34% savings in run time. Smaller particle preparative isolations using columns with inert hardware are a practical option for those laboratories where reduced amounts of target are needed for projects conducted on accelerated timelines.<h4>METHODS</h4><ul><li>Analytical Columns and flow rate: ACQUITY Premier HSS T3 and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://labrulez.com/en-us/all/products/1952">ACQUITY UPLC HSS T3 Columns</a>; 1.8 μm, 2.1x50 mm; 0.35 mL/min&nbsp;</li><li>Prep Columns and flow rate: XSelect HSS T3 OBD Prep Column and XSelect Premier HSS T3 OBD Prep (custom) Columns, 5 μm, 10x150 mm; XSelect Premier HSS T3 OBD Prep Column, 3.5 μm, 10x100 mm; 5.4 mL/min</li></ul><h5>Instrumentation&nbsp;</h5><ul><li>Analytical: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://labrulez.com/en-us/all/products/198">ACQUITY UPLC H-Class System</a>; Quaternary Solvent Manager, Sample Manager FTN-H, Column Manager, TUV Detector, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://labrulez.com/en-us/all/products/1543">ACQUITY QDa Detector&nbsp;</a></li><li>Prep: Waters AutoPurification System; 2545 Binary Gradient Module, 2767 Sample Manager, System Fluidics Organizer, 2998 Photodiode Array Detector</li></ul><h4>CONCLUSIONS&nbsp;</h4><ul><li>Chicoric acid was analyzed and isolated using analytical and preparative MaxPeak Premier HSS T3 Columns with inert surfaces, which increased the peak area and height for improved detection and collection.&nbsp;</li><li>Chicoric acid was successfully isolated using 3.5 and 5 μm XSelect Premier HSS T3 OBD Prep Columns and fraction pool analysis showed equivalent UV purity, which suggests the viability of incorporating small particle preparative chromatography into the purification workflow.&nbsp;</li><li>3.5 μm preparative columns improve purification process efficiency and promote sustainability by reducing method run time, solvent usage, and fraction lyophilization time.&nbsp;</li><li>Inert MaxPeak Premier column hardware, OBD Technology, and small particle preparative columns are well-suited for the demands of the purification laboratory when results must be generated efficiently to satisfy accelerated production timelines</li></ul></div></div></div></div></div></div></section></div></div>

News from LabRulezLCMS Library - Week 40, 2026

Pressurized Liquid Extraction: Principle, Method, and Workflow

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Anatune

GPC/SEC is a non-interactive chromatographic technique that will separate samples based on their size in solution and NOT on their chemistry. How do you choose, e.g. the right mobile phase, column, etc. for your sample?
In this webinar, we will examine the following elements of GPC/SEC method development:
<ul>
<li>Sample type – Polymer vs Protein
</li>
<li>Solvent choice – Organic vs Aqueous
</li>
<li>Columns – Traditional, NEW Multisolvent column (for both GPC &amp; SEC), Fast GPC; Which is best and how can you maximize column performance thru selection
</li>
<li>Calibration – What standards are appropriate to use; Why and why not
</li>
<li>Detection – RI and Advanced Detection We will look at each of these areas, provide application examples, and valuable tips to help you develop a GPC/SEC method that is both robust and reproducible.
</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Jean Lane (Application Engineer, Agilent Technologies, Inc.)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Jean has been employed with Agilent since Nov 2010 in technical and applications support and has a primary role supporting Agilent’s full line of LC columns and consumables, which also includes support for Agilent’s GPC/SEC product line. She came to Agilent thru acquisition of Varian and the former Polymer Laboratories. Jean has 20 plus years of technical and applications support for both HPLC and GPC consumable products. In addition to practical chromatography experience in the laboratory, she has had many, many years in her technical role involving customer support providing assistance and troubleshooting for customer chromatography issues.
</blockquote>

Agilent Technologies: Encore Performance!!! GPC/SEC Method Development; It’s Not Just About Sample Size in Solution

Encore Performance!!! GPC/SEC Method Development; It’s Not Just About Sample Size in Solution

GPC/SEC Method Development

When we think about sample cleanup, we often imagine a lengthy procedure that can be costly and one that can potentially lower the recovery of some of our key analytes of interest.
In addition, current methods such as simple particulate filtration or protein precipitation , while fast, are not effective at removing harmful contaminants such as lipids. By skipping sample cleanup to save time, we run the risk of contaminating our instrument, column, and incurring additional long-term costs due to increased instrument maintenance and downtime. Introducing contaminants into our instrument can also negatively affect our data quality by decreasing analyte response and increasing RSD values. But did you know that you can effectively clean your dirtiest samples with an easy 1-step cleanup? You can now with Agilent’s award-winning product, Captiva EMR-Lipid! Processing samples has never been easier with automation friendly formats and a quick, simple procedure. In this webinar, we will elaborate on the harmful consequences of contamination, specifically by lipids, and discuss how Captiva EMR-Lipid provides excellent cleanup for lipid-containing samples while delivering accurate reliable results.
<blockquote>
Presenter: Alex Ucci (Application Engineer, Agilent Technologies, Inc.)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
In his current position at Agilent, Alex provides application assistance and technical support for sample preparation products as well as GC and LC consumables. Before he joined Agilent in 2014, Alex was a graduate student at the Pennsylvania State University researching the morphology and surface properties of aerosol particles using a wide variety of analytical techniques. He has an MS degree in chemistry.
</blockquote>

Agilent Technologies: Sample Clean-Up in the Fast Lane

Sample Clean-Up in the Fast Lane

The harmful consequences of contamination, specifically by lipids, and how Captiva EMR-Lipid provides excellent cleanup for lipid-containing samples.

Mass Spectrometry continues to grow in popularity. Many labs with mass spectrometers often look to “upgrading” their HPLC to UHPLC as a way to shorten run times, increase throughput, and thereby keep up with the increasing demand on their mass spectrometers. But is “upgrading” our only choice?
While UHPLC does offer several advantages over traditional HPLC for the mass spec lab, including speed, many LC/MS applications can be run on an optimized HPLC with very good results.In today’s talk, we will discuss system optimization not only for UHPLC/MS, but also with the goal of improving speed, resolution, and throughput on our traditional HPLC/MS systems as well.
<blockquote>
Presenter: Paul Altiero (Application Engineer, Agilent Technologies, Inc.)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Paul Altiero is an Applications Engineer located at the Agilent Little Falls site in Wilmington, DE. Prior to coming to Agilent in 2009, Paul worked in the pharmaceutical industry performing LCMS bioanalysis supporting Drug Discovery DMPK. While at Agilent, Paul has been a field service engineer for LCMS as well as the integrating program manager for the RapidFire high throughput LCMS system. In his current role Paul’s responsibilities include technical support and application assistance for LCMS consumables.
</blockquote>

Agilent Technologies: Your HPLC/MS; Solutions for Your Instrument

Your HPLC/MS; Solutions for Your Instrument

System optimization not only for UHPLC/MS, but also with the goal of improving speed, resolution, and throughput on our traditional HPLC/MS systems as well.

Whether you’re starting a new method or running a routine one, having a checklist to review before starting can help avoid chromatography problems.
In this presentation, we will look at:
<ul>
<li>Your supplies: The role they play in getting the best results possible from your instrument
</li>
<li>Your column: The importance of choice; Why you should benchmark your column with your system
</li>
<li>Your instrument: The importance of maintenance and what to put on your “housekeeping” list
</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Rita Steed (Application Engineer, Agilent Technologies, Inc.)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Rita Steed began supporting the LC column line for Agilent in 1999. As a Chromatography Specialist (first with Chromatography, Inc., then directly for Agilent), Rita worked on-site with researchers in Pharmaceutical and other industries presenting technical seminars and assisting researchers with troubleshooting and method development. Rita has over 20 years of Chromatography experience in the Biotechnology, Chemical, and Pharmaceutical industries. She has held positions in Research, Sales, and Technical Service. Rita has earned degrees in Microbiology and Life Sciences/Biochemistry. In her current position, she is an inside Application Engineer supporting LC columns.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Alex Ucci (Application Engineer, Agilent Technologies, Inc.)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
In his current position at Agilent, Alex provides application assistance and technical support for sample preparation products as well as GC and LC consumables. Before he joined Agilent in 2014, Alex was a graduate student at the Pennsylvania State University researching the morphology and surface properties of aerosol particles using a wide variety of analytical techniques. He has an MS degree in chemistry.
</blockquote>

Agilent Technologies: The Chromatography Checklist

The Chromatography Checklist

Whether you’re starting a new method or running a routine one, having a checklist to review before starting can help avoid chromatography problems.

Whether you’re currently working with biomolecules or are making a transition from working with small molecules to biotherapeutics you will find that size does make a difference in the decisions we make as we’re developing a method.
Some characteristics of biomolecules can make their separations both different from and more challenging than small molecule separations. Of the many different HPLC separation mechanisms and column types, reverse phase is commonly used for both small molecules and biomolecules. This presentation will look at what we typically think about for small molecules and how working with biomolecules may be similar or in some cases quite different.
Areas we’ll discuss are:
<ul>
<li>Method development parameters; similarities and differences
</li>
<li>Column selection
</li>
<li>The matrix and sample prep
</li>
<li>Instrument considerations
</li>
<li>Tips to help identify why your separation doesn’t look like you thought it would
</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Rita Steed (Application Engineer, Agilent Technologies, Inc.)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Rita Steed began supporting the LC column line for Agilent in 1999. As a Chromatography Specialist (first with Chromatography, Inc., then directly for Agilent), Rita worked on-site with researchers in Pharmaceutical and other industries presenting technical seminars and assisting researchers with troubleshooting and method development. Rita has over 20 years of Chromatography experience in the Biotechnology, Chemical, and Pharmaceutical industries. She has held positions in Research, Sales, and Technical Service. Rita has earned degrees in Microbiology and Life Sciences/Biochemistry. In her current position, she is an inside Application Engineer supporting LC columns.
</blockquote>

Agilent Technologies: Making the Leap: Small Molecules to Biomolecules

Making the Leap: Small Molecules to Biomolecules

What we typically think about for small molecules and how working with biomolecules may be similar or in some cases quite different.

In this seminar, we will discuss the regulatory requirements, the methods currently available, and the appropriate analytical techniques—such as GC/MS/MS or LC/MS/MS—to perform this analysis in a cGMP environment. We will also consider how other technologies, such as Q-TOF, can help prevent similar situations.
<blockquote>
Presenter: Antonio Chana - Product Specialist Liquid Phase Separation, Agilent Technologies
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Marcus Chadha - LC-MS Field Application Specialist, Agilent Technologies
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Soma Dasgupta - PhD Application Engineer, GC/GCMS, Agilent Technologies
</blockquote>

Agilent Technologies: Nitrosamine analysis in APIs and Medicines

Nitrosamine analysis in APIs and Medicines

Improvements in mass spectrometry have generated an increasing demand for analysis of more complicated samples by mass spectrometry (MS). While liquid chromatography (LC) and gas chromatography (GC) are effective at reducing sample complexity, co-elution of components is still not entirely avoidable. The reality of today&#39;s lab is:
<ul>
<li>A variety of instrument configurations and a multitude of software interfaces</li>
<li>Mountains of complex data for analysis</li>
</ul>
Struggle no more!
Join us to learn how vendor-neutral software can help you deformulate samples more efficiently leveraging knowledge from both the wider scientific community and your organization. See how third-party software enables you to:
<ul>
<li>Separate co-eluting components</li>
<li>Identify known and unknown components</li>
<li>Store, share, and leverage expertise</li>
</ul>
Hear about recent enhancements to these tools and see a sneak-peek of enhancements yet to come.
<h3>Intended Audience</h3>
<ul>
<li>Mass Spectrometrists</li>
<li>Analytical Chemists</li>
<li>Analytical Lab Managers/Directors</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Anne Marie Smith, Senior Application Scientist at ACD/Lab
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
She received her Ph.D. in Chemical Biology from McMaster University where she developed MALDI-MS based assays for screening aminoglycoside kinases. After graduating she was employed as an Associate Scientist with Gilead Sciences in Alberta where her work focused primarily on impurity identification by LC/MS and LC method development. At ACD/Labs Anne Marie applies her hands-on experience with MS instruments and scientific software packages, plus knowledge of chromatographic method validation, to help customers implement our MS solutions and troubleshoot any technical challenges.
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<blockquote>
Host: Sanji Bhal is the Director of Marketing &amp; Communications at ACD/Labs.
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<blockquote>
Prior to joining ACD/Labs she was a lab-coat wearing medicinal chemist at Signalgene Inc., where she pursued her ongoing interest in cancer research, followed by a stint with the CRO NAEJA Pharmaceuticals. Sanji began her career in the U.K., completing her Ph.D. in synthetic organic chemistry at the University of Reading, and a post-doctoral fellowship at Cancer Research UK. Today Sanji is passionate about understanding the challenges still faced by scientists and R&amp;D organizations, and helping to &#39;match-make&#39; their needs with the tools available to support their innovations.
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Pixabay/Gerd Altmann:  Practical Steps for Efficient Deconvolution of LC/MS and GC/MS Data for Deformulation

 Practical Steps for Efficient Deconvolution of LC/MS and GC/MS Data for Deformulation

From a forensic perspective, a laboratory must answer this question: is the material presented for analysis an illegal product based on its total THC content? This presentation will discuss analytical strategies to answer this question.
The question ‘is this sample illegal based on its psychoactive ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol content’ has been common in forensic labs for decades. Traditionally, this has been answered in a binary fashion as “yes” or “no” based on the results from a semi-quantitative analysis using GC/MS technologies. Since the passage of the Agriculture Improvement Act, also known as the Farm Bill, this question has become more complicated due in large part to the legalization of hemp as an industrial crop. 
The United States Federal Register defines industrial hemp as any part or derivative (including seeds) of the plant Cannabis sativa L. with a dry weight concentration of “tetrahydrocannabinols” not greater than 0.3% by dry weight of the plant material. Tetrahydrocannabinols specifically refer to salts and isomers of ∆9- tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Any hemp plant material that exceeds this threshold is defined as marijuana and considered an illegal Schedule I narcotic. 
Recently, the USDA has published guidance for the determination of total THC (0.877*[THCA] + [THC]) in hemp and hemp-derived cannabinoid products. It has been stipulated that this testing must occur in DEA registered labs and that HPLC and or GC technologies are to be used for the quantitative determinations. Here, subject matter experts discuss an orthogonal LC/MS and GC/MS analytical strategy for quantification of total THC in hemp and hemp products. They will also discuss sample preparation of various products and analytical challenges using LC and GC methodologies. 
<h3>Detailed Learning Objectives</h3>
a) Understand the legal definition of hemp and its differentiation from marijuana
b) Learn about HPLC, LC/MS, and GC/MS testing strategies
c) Understand the analytical challenges for the determination of total THC in cannabis, hemp, and cannabinoid products 
<h3>Who should attend:</h3>
Forensic and criminalistic scientists, and laboratory personnel charged with the differentiation of legal help products and illegal cannabis materials.
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Presenter: Anthony Macherone, Ph.D., Sr. Scientist, Strategic Program Manager &amp; Cannabis Applications Technical Leader, Agilent Technologies; Visiting Professor, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
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Pixabay/NickyPe: Hemp: A Forensic Perspective

Hemp: A Forensic Perspective

The subject of this presentation is practical results achieved from comprehensive automation of complex sample preparation workflows for LC/MS and GC/MS. An overview of the most frequently encountered reasons for wanting to automate sample preparation is presented along with the attained benefits in laboratories based on real life cases. An automation platform based on a robotic autosampler with one or two independently moving x-y-z arms is presented along with available modules for a wide range of individual operations.
Using a combination of individual modules for agitation, incubation, centrifugation, and evaporation, liquid/liquid extraction or derivatization procedures can be automated. For extract- or sample clean-up, modules ranging from filtration through centrifugation to solid phase extraction (SPE) are available to meet individual analytical needs. The automation potential of the platform is illustrated based on application examples of widespread current interest. Among these are the determination of 3-MCPD and glycidol in edible oils; glyphosate in food; mineral oil hydrocarbon (MOSH/MOAH) contamination of food; and phosphatidylethanol (PEth), an alcohol consumption marker used in forensic toxicology and determined in Dried Blood Spots (DBS).
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Presenter: Oliver Lerch, Ph.D.
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<blockquote>
Oliver is Automated Sample Preparation Product Manager at GERSTEL in Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany. After obtaining his doctorate in analytical chemistry at the Ruhr University Bochum, Germany in 2003, Dr. Lerch worked as a Post Doctorate Fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Plant Physiology in Potsdam, Germany. In 2005, he joined GERSTEL as Application Specialist involved in product development and application testing. Over several years, Dr. Lerch has been responsible for strategic application development for the areas Food-, Water-, Pharmaceutical- as well as Forensic Toxicology. Multiple projects have been implemented in close cooperation with scientists in customer laboratories and several have been published in peer reviewed journals.
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Gerstel: State of the Art Automated Sample Preparation for 3-MCPD, MOSH/MOAH, Glyphosate, PEth, and more

State of the Art Automated Sample Preparation for 3-MCPD, MOSH/MOAH, Glyphosate, PEth, and more

Potential carcinogens N-nitrosamines continue to keep pharmaceutical companies in the crosshairs of health regulators. At every stage of the production process, regulators are demanding increased scrutiny on the presence of nitrosamine and a suite of robust, cost effective techniques are desperately needed to face this issue. The automation that we at Anatune specialise in offers the best chance of meeting the data quality and required throughput.
At this forum, senior scientists from major pharmaceutical companies are coming together to collaborate and solve this problem as quickly as possible. If you work in the pharmaceutical industry or have any interest in the measurement of nitrosamines, this event is for you.
<h3>Agenda:</h3>
09:50 Introduction: Dan Carrier, Anatune
10:00 Regulatory Considerations for Nitrosamine Analysis - Andrew Teasdale AstraZeneca
10:20 The challenge of nitrosamines in drug products and API: how automation can help – Camilla Liscio, Anatune
10:40 Q&amp;A
10:50 Comparison of OMCL Methods for Nitrosamine Impurities in Sartans and Recent Analysis - Mark Harrison, AstraZeneca
11:10 Nitrosamine Analysis with CROs - Tony Taylor, Arch Sciences Group
11:30 Q&amp;A and final discussion.
12:00 Finish