Agilent has expanded its line of HPLC chip/mass spectrometry (MS) modules, introducing five chips for the study of small and large molecules, all to be used with the 1200 series HPLC-chip system.
Agilent's breakthrough HPLC-Chip technology combines nanoflow HPLC with an electrospray ionisation source in a reusable microfluidic chip about the size of a credit card.
Agilent's first two HPLC-Chips, the Protein ID chip and the MS Calibration and Diagnostic chip, were introduced about a year ago.
Based on enthusiastic customer response Agilent has developed five additional chips to cover a wider range of applications.
The HPLC-Chip/MS makes the dramatic sensitivity increases promised by nanospray LC/MS attainable by more researchers, thanks to elimination of half the fittings and connections of conventional nanoflow LC/MS systems.
This reduces the potential for leaks and dead volumes while significantly enhancing chromatographic performance, simplifying workflows and enhancing reliability.
"Using HPLC-Chip, we have more than doubled our productivity, analysing four to six samples per hour instead of the one or two that we could do with classical nanoflow-LC, and all at increased sensitivity," said David Stapleton, research transfer facility manager, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, Melbourne, Australia.
"Agilent strives to streamline customers' entire workflows," said Chris van Ingen, president of Agilent's Chemical Analysis and Life Sciences group.
"The plug-and-play aspects of these chips unlock the profound benefits of nanoflow analysis for researchers hindered by the complexity of conventional nanoflow systems".
The New HPLC-Chips.
The Protein ID Chip #2, featuring a 40nl enrichment column and 150mm x 75um analytical column packed with Zorbax 300SB C18 5um.
It joins the original Protein ID Chip, which has a 40nl enrichment column and 43mm x 75um analytical column with the same Zorbax packing material and features a longer analytical column for enhanced resolution and peak capacity.
The Infusion Chip, designed for applications requiring direct infusion or automated flow injection of the sample directly into the mass spectrometer at nanoflow rates for the collection of MS and MS/MS data.
Unlike other HPLC-Chips, this chip does not include an enrichment or analytical column.
The Small Molecule Chip, designed for pharmaceutical and other small molecule applications.
It contains a 40 nl enrichment column and 43mm x 75um analytical column packed with Zorbax 80SB C18 5um.
The Glycan Chip, for use in oligosaccharide separation applications.
This chip also can be used for the separation of polar small molecules and isomeric compounds, such as geometric isomers and diastereoisomers.
This chip features a 40nl enrichment column and 43mm x 75um analytical column packed with graphitised carbon material.
The Custom Chip.
Agilent will pack standard-layout HPLC-Chips with customer-specified media, and will also work with customers to produce chips with custom layouts, features and functionalities.
To enable compliance and experiment management, the HPLC-Chip includes a radio frequency tag that contains information such as HPLC-Chip ID and type, documentation, diagnostic and operational data, and additional memory for user comments.
The RF tag is read each time the chip is inserted into the HPLC-Chip Cube interface on the mass spec, and information is updated on the tag before chip removal.
The HPLC-Chip Cube The second component of the Agilent 1200 Series HPLC-Chip/MS system is the HPLC-Chip/MS Cube interface.
In addition to positioning the electrospray ionisation tip in an orthogonal position to the MS inlet for maximum sensitivity and robustness, the HPLC-Chip Cube MS interface automatically loads and seals the HPLC-Chip, establishing high-pressure, leak-tight fluid connections.
The Agilent 1200 Series LC systems and modules cover the entire range from nanoflow to preparative scale liquid chromatography.
Agilent sells more than 900 LC columns, ranging from 0.075mm to 50mm ID, 15mm to 250mm in length, 1.8um to 10um particle sizes and more than 65 bonded phases, plus additional special-application columns.
