Osaka University researchers developed a non-destructive model to predict banana ripeness by analyzing emitted volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and orthogonal partial least squares (OPLS) regression, they accurately linked VOC composition to color and sugar content. This metabolomics-based approach aims to replace destructive testing, offering a practical tool for improving banana supply chain management.
LCGC International’s interview series on the evolving role of artificial intelligence (AI)/machine learning (ML) in separation science continues with Boudewijn Hollebrands from Unilever Foods R&D, Wageningen, Netherlands, discussing deep learning models to predict food peptide retention times.
A special session focusing on future developments in separation science, organized by the Separation Science Division of the German Chemical Society (GDCh) under the chairmanship of Oliver Schmitz, will take place at analytica on March 24, 2026.
A special session focusing on future developments in separation science, organized by the Separation Science Division of the German Chemical Society (GDCh) under the chairmanship of Oliver Schmitz, will take place at analytica on March 24, 2026.
Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was used to quantify creatine, creatinine, and guanidinoacetic acid in saliva and serum samples from young adults before and after exercise. While salivary creatine and creatinine levels increased significantly post-exercise, serum creatine remained stable, highlighting distinct metabolite dynamics between these two biological fluids during physical exertion.
A recent study employed high-throughput liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) to perform comprehensive metabolic profiling on plasma samples from nearly 4,000 women. By leveraging the separation power of chromatography and the sensitivity of mass spectrometry, researchers identified specific metabolic perturbations, such as steroid esters and triglycerides, linked to the risk of hearing loss. These findings demonstrate how automated analytical platforms can uncover novel biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets for complex sensory disorders.
LCGC International's "LC Troubleshooting" column editor Dwight Stoll and colleagues pay tribute to the late Peter Carr, an innovator in the field of analytical chemistry.
A sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method utilizing immunoaffinity enrichment to has been developed to quantify donanemab, an Alzheimer’s therapy, in human serum. The process involves immunoaffinity capture followed by tryptic digestion and targeted peptide quantification, and provides a robust, high-precision alternative to traditional immunoassays for monitoring therapeutic monoclonal antibodies in clinical settings.
Oliver Jones and Navneet Singh from RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia discuss a recent study they conducted to investigate the relationship between tidal cycles and PFAS concentrations in estuarine systems, and offer practical advice on the sample preparation and LC–MS/MS techniques they used to achieve the best results.
This year, to help celebrate the 60th birthday of field-flow fractionation (FFF), scientists are gathering at the Herbert Hoover Building in Washington, DC from May 17-20, 2026 for the 24th International Conference on Field- and Flow-based Separations (iSFFF 2026).
Methods for Detecting and Characterizing PFAS in the Environment is scheduled to take place at Pittcon on Sunday, March 8, from 8:30 am -11:00 am in Room 303C of the Henry B. González Conference Center. Seven speakers from industry and academia will gather to explore and evaluate approaches for uncovering and distinguishing these chemicals to assess the potential human health and environmental risks they present.
Modern capillary gas chromatographs offer excellent resolution and sensitivity with quick training time, but, like any complex scientific instrument, require regular maintenance. Nick Snow's latest "GC Connections" column covers essential maintenance practices, including carrier gas management, inlet upkeep, column care, and detector maintenance.
The session Next-Generation Drug Development Enabled by Automation, Digitalization, and AI/ML is scheduled to take place at Pittcon 2026 in San Antonio, TX, on Monday, March 9, from 8:30 am–10:40 am in Room 304B of the Henry B. González Conference Center. A quartet of industry professionals will come together to share how automation and AI are revolutionizing modern drug development.
Researchers at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart (Piacenza, Italy) used UHPLC-QTOF to profile phenolic compounds in forages and analyze metabolomics in milk used to produce Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. IM-HRMS lipidomics revealed how different cow diets—such as grass-enriched versus alfalfa-based—modulate specific triacylglycerols, sphingomyelins, and plant-derived metabolites within the milk composition.
Researchers from the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, Michigan) have introduced lack-of-fit (LOF), a peak-shape congruence measure that gauges the residual mismatch between candidate signals within a narrow retention window; pairs scoring below 20% are deemed degenerate and grouped together. LCGC International spoke to Caitlin Cain, lead author of the paper presenting this work, about her group’s research.
Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was coupled with high-abundance protein depletion to identify potential biomarkers for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Comparative proteomic profiling of RA and healthy sera revealed 154 differentially expressed proteins, and identified five potential RA-associated biomarkers, offering insights into RA pathogenesis and early diagnosis.
Using gas chromatography (GC) to analyze fatty acid (FA) profiles in milk from native goats, managed under grazing versus housed systems, the results indicated that grazing led to a more favorable FA profile, while housed goats produced higher milk yields.
Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was employed to identify plasma biomarkers for global developmental delay (GDD) and intellectual disability (ID). High-resolution chromatography enabled the detection of key metabolites like 2-ketohexanoic acid and lipids such as diacylglycerol (16:0/16:0), which demonstrated exceptional diagnostic accuracy (AUC > 0.91), highlighting significant dysregulation in sphingolipid and amino acid metabolic pathways.
Michael Dong explains why basic drugs dominate modern therapeutics, drawing on principles of receptor binding, membrane permeability, and formulation science, and traces the evolution of silica‑based HPLC technology, from metal‑contaminated Type A silica to high‑purity Type B silica and modern hybrid or surface‑modified materials.
Research conducted at Iran’s Imam Khomeini Hospital utilized gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to quantify serum opioid levels in 50 poisoned patients. Findings identified methadone as the primary causative agent (72%), with significant concentration variances observed across gender and residency. The analytical data from GC-MS proved critical for confirming clinical diagnoses and assessing poisoning severity.
Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was used to quantify ondansetron concentrations in dogs following intravenous and subcutaneous administration. Analytical results revealed 84.6% bioavailability and peak plasma concentrations of 84.6 ng/mL. The high sensitivity of LC-MS/MS enabled precise non-compartmental modeling to establish therapeutic dosing intervals for clinical use.
To detect pesticide residue presence in grapes, researchers developed a high-throughput workflow utilizing low-pressure gas chromatography (GC) and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (QqQMS). This dual-platform approach enabled the detection of 236 pesticides, identifying 23 residues in grape samples and highlighting significant health risks from parathion-methyl through validated, high-precision quantification.
Korean researchers utilized liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) to quantify serum metabolites in asthma patients. By leveraging the high-resolution separation of LC combined with the sensitive detection of MS/MS, researchers can identify specific metabolic signatures, providing critical insights into the biochemical pathways and potential biomarkers associated with asthma progression.
Researchers utilized liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and electronic tongue analysis to track protein degradation and taste compound evolution during roasting. The study identified six key differentiated metabolites (VIP > 1, P < 0.05), highlighting alanine and 5'-IMP as primary contributors to the significant umami and richness profiles developed during the final processing stages.
Researchers utilized headspace-solid phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC–MS/MS) to analyze 154 volatile organic compounds across 16 tomato varieties. By identifying 26 key aroma compounds through relative odor activity value (rOAV) analysis, researchers highlighted aldehydes as the primary VOC group. Furthermore, the integration of GC-MS/MS data with electronic nose technology and LightGBM machine learning demonstrates a sophisticated analytical framework for accurately discriminating tomato fruit color and flavor profiles.
Using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography high resolution tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC–HRMS/MS), researchers at Wageningen Food Safety Research, part of Wageningen University & Research (The Netherlands) identified methyl 2-(sulfo-oxy)benzoate as a novel biomarker that differentiates pharmaceutical from plant-derived salicylic acid in eggs. LCGC International spoke to Serena Rizzo, corresponding author of the paper resulting from this work, about the group’s findings.
Research reveals critical challenges in transferring analytical high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) methods to preparative fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) systems for therapeutic peptide purification. Scientists developed correction equations using impurity libraries to address parameter transferability issues, enabling more reliable scale-up from analytical testing to production-scale purification of peptide drugs like semaglutide and tirzepatide.
Using reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC), researchers separated tarantula venom into eleven fractions, revealing neuroactive compounds that mimic FDA-approved drugs. RP-HPLC-isolated fractions demonstrated donepezil-like, diazepam-like, and lidocaine-like neurobehavioral effects in zebrafish, highlighting spider venom's potential for neurological disorder therapeutics through chromatographic purification.
Top articles published this week highlight the analytical challenges of metal speciation in biological systems, a new machine-learning framework called assisted active learning (AAL), and the value of in-person conferences.
In this month's LCGC Blog, Hayley Brawley and Alexia Kreinbrink explore the challenges facing chromatographers when exploring the complex world of metal speciation.
