AC Extraction Plate™

When determining small molecules in biological matrices by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC/MS), it is important to ensure that the sample preparation steps remove any interfering matrix components prior to sample injection. Common procedures to remove proteins can be complex and time consuming. Explore how simple procedures can be applied with the Tecan AC Extraction Plate to remove proteins from a sample matrix, and that the protein is not retained in the TICE™ coating covering the lower part of the plate’s wells.

The AC Extraction Plate with TICE™ technology simplifies the sample preparation of biological samples. For efficient extraction from a biological sample matrix into the TICE coating, it is important that the molecule is in a neutral state. This technical note provides information on the pH-related factors that influence the distribution coefficient of a molecule between the TICE coating and the aqueous medium. It also explains how the optimal extraction pH can be determined experimentally, or be approximated by calculation.

Quantification of small molecules in biological samples (such as serum, plasma, urine or blood) by LC-MS is generally only performed after a sample clean-up step. This is due to the presence of specific matrix constituents – such as proteins and phospholipids – which might negatively affect the analysis. The Tecan AC Extraction Plate simplifies sample preparation by efficiently removing most matrix components – such as proteins and salts – without any precipitation, filtration, centrifugation and evaporation steps.

The Tecan AC Extraction Plate is a valuable sample preparation tool for analyses by specific analytical detection systems like e.g. LC-MS/MS. This technical note demonstrates part of Tecan’s quality control procedures for ensuring reproducible plate lot to plate lot performance. The results show that the AC Extraction Plate delivers very reproducible extraction performance with low CV values, indicating a stable production process and reproducible performance of the plate.

In this technical note, a screening study was undertaken to examine a range of different analytes with varying functional groups and molecular sizes. The target molecules were pharmaceuticals, pesticides, or simple stereotypical organic molecules. An extraction step was performed in different solvent mixtures composed of water and an organic solvent. Comparison of the analyte concentration in the supernatant before and after extraction yielded the extraction efficiency.

The ideal sample preparation process for further analysis by techniques such as LC-MSMS should be simple, involve relatively few steps, produce a clean sample free from interfering matrix materials and, to increase analytical sensitivity, concentrate the analyte of interest. This technical note describes how to use the AC Extraction Plate as a method development tool for specific analytes for LC-MSMS analysis, by optimizing the three ‘pipette and shake’ steps.

The AC Extraction Plate is a 96-well, deep-well plate providing a straightforward workflow that is reproducible and cost-effective. There are fewer steps compared to most commonly used sample preparation methods, and these steps are more easily implemented into automated workflows. This application note describes the extraction of ibuprofen from pig urine using a simple sample preparation workflow based on the AC Extraction Plate, and subsequent analysis by LC-MSMS.

This application note describes an automated method for the determination of Vitamin D in serum using LC-MS/MS analysis. Details of the workflow are described.

This application note demonstrates the suitability of Tecan's AC Extraction Plate for sample preparation prior to the determination of vitamin D in serum by LC-MSMS, along with details of the workflow and how to use the AC Extraction Plate.

This application note describes a straightforward approach for the preparation of serum samples for subsequent LC-MS analysis of testosterone, focusing on a streamlined workflow suitable for automation.

Tecan’s AC Extraction Plate™, which is based on proprietary TICE™ (Tecan Immobilized Coating Extraction) technology, is a revolutionary, automation­friendly solution designed to streamline sample preparation for LC-MS analysis of small molecules. The AC Extraction Plate™ requires fewer and easier steps than with SPE and SLE (supported liquid extraction) comparable plate based technology. Most importantly, with the AC Extraction Plate™ there is no need for filtration, centrifugation or evaporation and sample preparation can be easily automated.

Tecan’s newly launched AC Extraction Plate is a revolutionary, automation-friendly solution designed to streamline sample preparation for LC-MS analysis of small molecules. The plate, which is based on proprietary TICE™ (Tecan Immobilized Coating Extraction) technology, reduces the sample preparation process to a convenient ‘pipette and shake’ routine. The AC Extraction Plate is a 96-position, deep-well microplate, with the inner surface of each well coated with a highly controlled layer of TICE material. This coating efficiently extracts low molecular weight analytes – such as vitamin D and testosterone – from aqueous solutions, eliminating the need for the laborious and time-consuming filtration, centrifugation and evaporation steps that are often integral to other methods. Unlike many of these techniques, sample preparation with the AC Extraction Plate can also be easily automated, providing a rapid, walkaway solution for the extraction of small molecules from biological fluids for LC-MS analysis.

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