Pittcon 2021 was an interesting experiment in virtual meetings. Hot topics included imaging, persistent organic molecules e.g. PFAS, and plastic particles. But SARS CoV-2 was the elephant in the convention hall. Its virtual presence dominated the meeting, shaping lectures and Zoom sessions. Many discussed noticeable changes in the workflow as labs reopened after a lost year.
Shimadzu (Kyoto, Japan), for one, oriented their new product introductions to the requirements of the post-CoV-2 laboratory. Shimadzu’s post-CoV-2 workflows in HPLC include the remote operation of i-Series HPLC. Now, one can operate a series of assays and receive the results at their desk at home. The new Mobile Phase monitor keeps track of liquid levels. The i-series also can anticipate liquid consumption before beginning the sample batch. Customer maintenance for many protocols is available on the instrument screen after scanning a QR™ Code.
Shimadzu introduced the Triple Quadrupole LCMS-8060NX which triples mass resolution to 30,000. The increase is due to redesigned ion guides and ion focus system. The latter permits polarity switching in 5 msec, 30,000 scan speed, and MRM measurements of 555 channels/sec. Uptime has been improved by a redesigned electrospray ionization replacement protocol, which avoids breaking vacuum. The new control software uses artificial intelligence to provide high detection sensitivity without tedious manual tuning.
A short lecture introduced the QX LC-MS/MS instrument that features automated multiplexing sample and reference flow paths to improve throughput and economics.
Two New Autosamplers for GC
Post-CoV-2 workflows in gas chromatography favor more automation and lower maintenance. Shimadzu’s new AOC-30 Autosampler increases sample capacity from 12 to 30 and also extends predicted septum life by 10 times (~ 1000 injections). The needle cleaning solvent can be chosen from several options to minimize carryover. The AOC-30 is a major improvement for entry-level autosamplers.
For more automation, Shimadzu introduced the AOC-6000 Multifunctional Autosampler. The 6000 holds key hardware modules on an accessible rack which facilitates automated switching from an on-column injection, sample dilution, internal standard addition and derivatization, headspace, etc. SMART Syringe Technology measures temperature resistance, use dates, stroke counts for syringes and SPME fibers.
Similarly, Shimadzu introduced the TOC-1000e Online TOC Analyzer optimized for on-line analysis of high purity water. The design goal is to eliminate “sampling and other manual operations, risk of mistakes, user error, variation in skill level.” This is consistent with the post-CoV-2 lab mantra “get the people out.”
Lucidity, a New Vendor for HPLC and GC Instruments
With a new hassle-free business model, which includes rental or purchase, Lucidity’s (Matthews, NC) tagline is “Changing the Model.” Lucidity is a CEM Division.
Lucidity’s press introduction described two new instruments, a GC and HPLC, designed to provide chromatograms with research-grade performance e.g. detection limits, reproducibility, and runtime, at a low cost of operation. The price point is justified by limiting options, assembling the instruments for stock, customer self-installation, combined with rapid (overnight) instrument replacement should serious problems arise.
The miniGC is equipped with a flame ionization detector (FID) & temperature programing to 400 oC. An optional autosampler (AS) that fits on top of the injector assembly. The autosampler is held in place with strong magnets, which also position the AS. Columns use a Restek column design which provides wrench-free installation and exchange.
The GC weighs only 35 lbs. which is consistent with installation and service by the customer. Instrument control is via a laptop with an attractive GUI. There are no manual controls to set and adjust. Results are exported to any data station. However, GCs still need umbilicals for gases, which was not covered in the press conference.
Lucidity’s miniHPLC is a bit heavier (55 Lbs.) Dual pumps provide gradient elution with a Pmax of 10,000 psi. The flow rate range is 0.1 to 10 mL/min. Detector: optical absorbance over the wavelength range of 184 nm to 475 nm. The speaker expects mass spectrometers will be a future option. Columns: your choice depending upon the application. The miniHPLC is designed to export settings and results to existing LIMS.
JEOL’s (Peabody MA) AccuTOF™ GC series was extended to six with the introduction of the JMS-T2000GC “AccuTOF™ GC-Alpha” with new ion optics. This triples mass resolution compared to the prior “AccuTOF GCx-plus”. The software was also redesigned to improve the deconvolution of overlapping peaks. In addition to the TOF MS, the new model supports field ionization(FI), field desorption(FD), photoionization(PI), electron ionization(EI) plus two new combination ion sources EI/FI/FD and EI/PI. Sources can be quickly selected without breaking the vacuum.
Malvern PANalytical Updates the Aeris X-ray Diffraction Instrument
Malvern (Malvern, UK) hosted a virtual press conference highlighting significant new capabilities added to the compact Aeris X-ray Powder Diffraction Instrument originally introduced in 2017. These extensions provide greater access to the sample, facilitating grazing angle and transmission measurement of powders, surface films, and coatings. For powders, the sample is added to the cup, which is mounted on a multi-position belt. The operator pushes a single button, in less than 10 min, one has a report of analytes greater than 0.005 mg or 0.5%. For thin films, the PreFIX accessory facilitates scanning the sample with grazing angle geometry with a choice of 2, 5, or 9 mm slits. Other sample options include Kapton capillaries. Software is now CFR 21-part 11 compliant, which is important for pharmaceutical labs.
JEOL also introduced the CRYO ARM™300 II for single particle analysis (SPA), for high-resolution protein structure imaging. The key is a new cold field emission gun and Omega energy filter that also doubles the throughput. For comparisons, the improved specimen exchange system can manipulate up to 12 samples with high positioning reproducibility. The market is driven by the need to image proteins.
Surgical Mask Bacterial Filtration Efficiency (BFE) Testing Apparatus from Glass Expansion
Surgical Masks are the most cost-effective Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in the anti-CoV-2 public health program. Counterfeiting of masks is a common concern. Glass Expansion (Port Melbourne, Victoria, Australia) introduced an apparatus to evaluate the filtration efficiency of masks. Glass Expansion makes a range of nebulizers primarily as sample injectors for ICP-MS instruments. The mask tester uses a nebulizer designed to produce an aerosol of 3 +/-0.3 um containing staphylococcus challenge solution to a 6 stage cascade impactor with agar plates for quantitation. (Staph is not a virus, but it is a good reporter for filter inefficiency.)
Alternative Methods for Virus Assay
Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) is today’s gold standard for the detection of CoV infection. Detection sensitivity is limited by interference from amplified reagent materials e.g. primer and primer dimers, which appear after about 30 to 35 amplification cycles. A session titled “Micro and Nanofluidic Systems for Detection of Viruses” compared novel approaches for selectively concentrating virus particles for assay.
Professor Steve Soper (University of Kansas, Kansas City, KA), reported the development of a small injection-molded plastic chip that isolates individual SARS-CoV-2 particles for counting using a nano-Coulter Counter. The chip contains and stable aptamer bonded to a 1.5 million array of pillars. This array can selectively harvest billions of CoV- particles from body fluids including saliva. The selectivity of the chip depends upon the highly specific interaction of the aptamer for the target analyte. Aptamers were chosen since they are much more stable than proteins. Near the end, Professor Soper showed a handheld device that includes controls for the assay. The platform should also be useful for detecting other infectious vectors including bacteria as well as other viruses.
Professor Jongyoon Han of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, (Cambridge, MA,), Kansas City, KA reported an efficient electrokinetic concentration cube that concentrates detection targets by up to 10^9 times. The cube starts with a 100 mL sample of body fluids and through multiple stages concentrates the target into a 10pL volume in only 30 min. His concentrator should also be useful for the detection of adventitious agents in bioprocessing.
Professor Blanca Lapizco-Encinas of the Rochester Institute of Technology (Rochester, NY) closed the session with an interesting display of electrokinetic applications including chips with circular, oval, and diamond-shaped pillars that produce non-linear electric fields that are useful in selectively concentrating nanoparticles. In one example, she described an insulator-based EK mechanism that combines electrophoresis, electroosmosis, and dielectrophoresis to isolate bacteriophages, for use in treating bacterial infections. COMSOL Multiphysics was also cited as a key enabling technology.
Capillary Electrophoresis (HPCE)
This year’s James L. Waters Symposium focused on capillary electrophoresis. Gerard Rozing Hewlett-Packard of Agilent (Santa Clara, CA) and Jeff Chapman of Beckman Instruments (Fullerton, CA) traced the commercial history of HPCE starting in the mid-1980s. Both pointed out that HPCE suffered from being seen as the little brother to HPLC. Yes, the instruments are similar, particularly detectors. Plus, the development staff were generally chromatographers. However, the details of the technology are different. Chromatographers used HPLC criteria to evaluate HPCE methods for reproducibility, ruggedness, and detection limits. During the lectures, I flashed on CE’s great success in sequencing the human genome just 20 years ago. Of course, the successful vendor for the CE instruments was Applied Biosystems, which had a strong life science focus in R&D and management.
According to Neal Dando, Ph. D. Pittcon 2021 President, the original objective of Pittcon’s 2021 program was to be “innovative, collaborative, memorable and positive return”. In October 2020, Pittcon decided to replace the traditional face-to-face format with a virtual program. The mantra became “contemporary, adaptable, dedicated.” For 2022, planning is continuing for the Georgia World Congress Center with a theme “Opportunity, Pittcon Together”. We can only hope the dream is realized.
Robert L. Stevenson, Ph.D., is Editor Emeritus, American Laboratory/Labcompare.