Application Notes: General

Use imaging mass spectrometry to determine the biodistribution of erlotinib (Tarceva®) in pancreatic tumors from treated and untreated mice.

Supercritical Fluid Chromatography (SFC) is quickly becoming a popular choice by chromatographers for analytical and preparative separations.

Phthalates are added to plastics to increase flexibility. Recently, concerns have been raised over the effect of phthalate exposure from plastic materials on human health.

By William Goodman, PerkinElmer, Inc.

The analysis of polar compounds in support of clinical and pre-clinical pharmacokinetic studies requires an analytical methodology capable of achieving ultra-low detection and quantification limits. The high sensitivity afforded by coupling HPLC with tandem mass spectrometry (MS–MS) has made it the technique of choice in this environment, but it is subject to the following limitations when reversed phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) is used

Multidimensional liquid chromatography (MDLC) techniques are essential for the separation of highly complex proteomic samples. Advantages of off-line MDLC techniques over on-line approaches include high flexibility in choice of column dimensions and mobile-phase compositions, and the ability to reanalyse sample fractions. Here we present a fully automated off-line two-dimensional chromatographic approach for the analysis of proteomic samples using an UltiMate 3000 system optimized for proteomics MDLC.

Combining an ultra fast LC system (e.g., Agilent 1200RRLC, Waters UPLC) with an accurate mass TOF mass spectrometer creates a powerful system for information-rich high-throughput analyses. However, for de novo formula generation and confirmation the residual mass accuracy tolerance of 3–5 ppm can still leave significant ambiguity in the proposed formula. Consequently, skilled manual inspection or further measurements deploying additional analytical techniques (NMR or MS–MS) are frequently required to arrive at a confident formula assignment.

Using ACQUITY UPLC technology with triple quadrupole MS detection enhances the selectivity, sensitivity and throughput in quantitative bioanalytical studies. Detection limits for these methods are being driven lower and lower as drugs become more potent.

Calvados is an apple-brandy of Normandy (France). Mashed apples are fermented to obtain cider, which is then distilled to give the young spirit.

The process of investigating a suspicious fire includes many different types of analyses. An essential step in confirming the presence of a liquid accelerant is gas chromatography (GC); detection with a mass spectrometer (MS) provides an accurate confirmation of both the presence and identity of an accelerant. In arson analysis, the sample preparation for GC–MS analysis is typically performed by headspace or solvent extraction.