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Metabolomics is a developing analytical approach that is growing rapidly in importance as a tool to improve diagnosis and treatment of disease, as well as to speed up the drug development process. Unlike genomics or proteomics, which only reveal part of what might be happening in a cell, metabolomic profiling can give an instantaneous snapshot of the entire physiology of that cell. This article describes the challenges associated with metabolomics research and new tools developed to overcome them.

Reproducing analysis conditions is crucial to achieving consistent, accurate results in gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Valid reproduction demands appropriate application of technique, solid method design, reliable and accurate equipment, and a dedicated team of well-practiced technicians and researchers. But even when all these conditions are met, users can be held back by the more subtle elements in GC–MS operations, such as cutting or changing a column, or setting up the same experiment on different equipment. Even getting the parameters of a test organized so that it can be reproduced elsewhere - in a laboratory across the hall, the country, or the world - can be daunting. Consistent GC–MS results depend upon retention-time reproducibility.

State-of-the-art mass spectrometry (MS) techniques of growing importance to life sciences research now include not just liquid chromatography (LC)–MSn (n = 2–11), but also LC–matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF), LC-MALDI-TOF-TOF, electrospray ionization (ESI)-TOF, and LC-Fourier transform (FT) MS.

With the growing need for companies to share their work with global counterparts and contract research organizations, the importance of ISO 17025 compliance to validate quality processes is paramount.

We all know that when the sample is dissolved in a stronger solvent (stronger than the mobile phase) chromatographic peak distortion can occur.

The Molecular Chirality Research Organization (MCRO) held its annual Molecular Chirality Symposium on May 15-16 at the Tokyo University of Science in Tokyo, Japan.

Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd. and Groupe Novasep, announced the formation of a strategic technical co-operation aimed at streamlining the use of chiral chromatography for manufacturing late-stage clinical and commercial chiral intermediates and APIs.

The volatile extraction market consists of three techniques: purge and trap, headspace, and thermal desorption equipment.

Syagen Technology, Inc., announced that it has signed a cross licensing agreement with the joint venture of Applied Biosystems/MDS SCIEX, both analytical instrumentation businesses, to share patent claims covering atmospheric pressure photo-ionization (APPI) and methods of usage.

Time for Scientists to have and image makeover? Zosimus: Is the image portrayed by badly dressed scientists leading to the dwindling number of youngsters joining the world of science? Advantages to High Performance Countercurrent Chromatography David Keay and Ian Janaway Identifying and Characterizing Polymers Using Pyrolysis GC-MS Ute Potyka Q&A: Think Small Michael Balogh, president and co-founder of CoSMoS - the Conference on Small Molecule Science, talks about the rationale behind the annual event. Shaping the Future: Part 2 Ronald Majors News All the news from June 2007. Market Trends & Analysis Glenn Cudiamat reports on the latest global market trends in preparative and process chromatography.

Agilent tours Asia Pacific region; Instrumental analysis exhibition; Joint research and development agreement

Chromatography at the Australian Centre for Research on Separation Science (ACROSS), University of Tasmania; Chromatography at the Australian Wine Research Institute; Separation Science at the University of Western Sydney; Natural product analysis at Charles Sturt University; Chromatography at the Australian Centre for Research on Separation Science (ACROSS), RMIT

Art Caputo, Executive Vice President and President, Waters Business Operations, Waters Corporation

Jose Castro-Perez, Kate Yu, and John Shockcor, Waters Corporation, Milford, MA

TLC Product Showcase

JEOL receives Omega Award; SGE and Australian Proteome Analysis Facility sign agreement; Spark Holland achieves ISO certification; Waters and Northeastern University open laboratory; Eksigent signs Korean distribution agreement

Ed Sprake and Iain Gibb Waters Corporation, Manchester, UK

June–July 2007

This adjustable spanner tool combines with the ease of use of a pair of pliers.

Calibration refers to the process of determining the relation between the output (or response or signal) of a measuring instrument and the value of the input quantity or property. Depending on the univariate or multivariate character of the response (signal) used; either a univariate or a multivariate calibration is performed. The different calibration approaches are summarized in this article.

Antonietta Gledhill Waters Corporation, Manchester, UK

Research group: Professor Jane Thomas-Oates, Analytical, Environmental and Atmospheric Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of York, York.

Robert Plumb and Jeffrey R. Mazzeo Waters Corporation, Milford, MA

Electrospray ionization (ESI), atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) and atmospheric pressure photoionization (APPI) are now among the most commonly used techniques for creating ions, especially from small-molecule compounds in solution. They have become so familiar that now many articles only refer to them briefly. Yet each technique has dramatic predictive strength on the outcome and limits of an analysis.

Jacek Sikora and Michael Dadlez Mass Spectrometry Laboratory and Department of Biophysics Chris Hughes, Hans Vissers, Th?r?se McKenna, Jim Langridge Waters Corporation, Manchester, United Kingdom Magdalena Boguta Department of Genetics, IBB PAS, Warsaw, Poland

Accurate preparation and correct selection of buffers is essential to obtain reproducible and consistent results in capillary electrophoresis (CE). A number of factors should be considered in buffer optimization, including the pKa of the buffering ion and the analyte as well as the molarity of the acid or base used in the adjusting procedure. Accurate recording of the precise reagents used and the procedures performed is necessary to prepare buffers consistently.

Thomas E. Wheat, Ziling Lu, Beth Gillece-Castro, and Jeffrey R. Mazzeo Waters Corporation, Milford, MA

Paul Rainville and Robert Plumb Waters Corporation, Milford, MA