The Column-05-22-2014

Scientists at the University of Cambridge (Cambridge, UK) have reconstructed the early conditions of the Earth?s oceans to find that spontaneous chemical reactions could have generated the first biological molecules, before the evolution of organisms or the existence of enzymes.1 The study published in the journal Molecular Systems Biology presents data collected from liquid chromatography?triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC–QTOF–MS) suggesting that reactions central to our core metabolism could have spontaneously occurred.

Over the last 30 years, the occurrence of head and neck cancer in Spain has been increasing, and now accounts for between 5–10% of malignant tumours diagnosed each year.1 In a new study published in the journal Chromatographia, solid-phase microextraction (SPME) with gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC–MS) has been performed to identify two potential biomarkers of epidermoid laryngeal cancer, that could be used in non-invasive diagnostic testing.

The 2014 Emerging Leader in Chromatography Award was presented to Andrè de Villiers. Here we chart his career and accomplishments so far.

Incognito speculates on how 3D printing could change life in the laboratory.

This article presents a new method to evaluate the temperature shift observed in analytical temperature rising elution fractionation (ATREF). The evaluation is based on the dependence of the measured peak temperature as a function of heating rates. Application of the proposed method does not require any knowledge of the fluid circuit characteristics geometry and avoids the use of narrow preparative TREF standards. The results are found to be more accurate than the method that is usually applied.

The Column spoke with experts in the pharmaceutical industry about current and emerging trends in pharmaceutical analysis, including the use of LC–MS instead of LC–UV for routine assays, best practices for impurity profiling, and areas where commonly used methods are likely to improve.

Click the title above to open The Column May 22, 2014 North American issue, Volume 10, Number 9, in an interactive PDF format.

Click the title above to open The Column May 22, 2014 Europe & Asia issue, Volume 10, Number 9, in an interactive PDF format.