Pittcon's New Products: Life Science Applications Continue to Grow.

From the many products new to Pittcon this year, IBO has elected to describe some groups of new products that illustrate evolving markets and expanded applications. Because of the rapid growth of the life science market, these products are focused more toward those types of applications. In the next issue, IBO will discuss important new products aimed at more traditional analytical applications.

Genomic and Proteomic Purification Systems

Notable among the new instruments introduced at Pittcon 2000 were several systems for genomic and proteomic purification. The systems are the result of the effort to further automate the drug development process and to provide more complete solutions for sample testing from beginning to end. The following three systems each offer distinct features.

The MagNA Pure LC from Roche Molecular Biochemicals is designed for automated preparation of nucleic acids. The instrument uses magnetic bead technology for medium throughput preparation, performing up to thirty-two isolations in less than one hour. After purification, the MagNA can set-up the downstream PCR/RT-PCR reactions. A centrifuge spins down the sample, or the nucleic acids, and master mixes can then be pipetted into 96-well PCR plates, strips or tubes.

PE Biosystems' SymBiot I sample workstation utilizes less sophisticated technology than the MagNA Pure LC, but is a high-throughput instrument, handling over 300 samples per hour. The SymBiot I is an automated sample preparation system for proteomic applications. This instrument uses chromatography technology to prepare samples for MALDI TOF analysis. It prepares standards, extracts the sample, digests proteins, modifies chemicals, generates DNA or peptide sequence ladders and extends primers.

The Biomek FX Plate Replication System from Beckman Coulter is also a high-throughput instrument but, unlike the MagNA Pure LC and the SymBiot I, only performs DNA purification. As with the MagNA Pure LC, it utilizes biomagnetic separation technology. The system features new software wizards with pre-set, validated methods and allows the use of one or two pipettors.

Prep LC-MS

The combination of prep LC with MS is fairly new and four companies introduced new systems at this year's Pittcon. These introductions signal that the competition for this market has already begun. Each system's approach is slightly different. Shimadzu's system is a single-vendor solution while Waters' system is as well, but the HPLC is from Waters and the MS system is from the Waters' subsidary, Micromass. The NEBULA Analysis Series is the result of ThermoQuest's collaboration with Gilson and Amersham Pharmacia Biotech and Analytical of Branford collaborated who on the MS system.

Shimadzu introduced the LC-MS prepSTAR Preparative LC/MS, which features fully automated, real time mass-directed fraction collection. All HPLC components for separating, detecting and collecting target compounds in prep HPLC are included with the instrument. Waters also introduced a HPLC-MS autopurification system. The system separates and collects synthesized compounds, analyzes impurities and cleans up library compounds. A new version MassLynx software controls all system components. The LC-MS NEBULA sample preparation system combines ThermoQuest's Finnigan AQA MS detector with Gilson's NEBULA Series analysis system to create a mass-based LC-MS purification system.

Software

This year, as in the recent past, software continues to be an integral part of instrument systems. In fact, traditional instrument companies, such as Waters and Agilent, highlighted their software at their press conferences. Among the needs that each of these systems addresses is 21 CFR Part 11 compliance. The FDA now requires laboratories to submit records electronically and 21 CFR Part 11 are the regulations governing electronic record keeping. It is yet another example of how software has become an integral part of laboratory procedures.

Mantra Software announced it will release version 4.0 of its NuGenesis VISION scientific data management system. Built on an application-independent data management platform, the new version allows for more secure electronic signatures, an audit trial and advanced searches.

Like Mantra, Waters has introduced the version 3.2 of its Millennium Chromatography Software that provides for 21 CFR Part 11 compliance. The software also includes Agilent 5890 and 6890 GC control and acquisition. In addition, version 3.2 features dissolution software.

Agilent Technologies introduced the Cerity networked data system for chemical quality analysis and quality control testing. The company emphasized that this new software is centered not around the instrument, but the sample. The software can control up to eight Agilent 6850 gas chromotrographs. The software is customized by industry; the chemical and pharmaceutical laboratory versions are currently available and other applications will soon be available. Cerity is 21 CFR Part 11 compliant.

Scientific Software's CyberLAB is the first intranet and internet based data management system. Many file types can be stored and large amounts of data can easily be accessed using a universal viewer. It is 21 CFR Part 11 compliant and can run with Oracle or Microsoft SQL Server databases.

Laboratory Automation

The trend toward greater automation motivated by the need to save time and money was even more evident at this year's Pittcon. As software becomes more sophisticated and the steps in analysis and synthesis are combined, laboratory automation takes on new features and applications. For example, Mettler-Toledo's MultiMax can utilize different users' capabilities and is a reliable workhorse for routine laboratory work, while Personal Chemistry's product is a revolutionary approach to drug synthesis and a one of a kind product. Together, these two products illustrate the range of laboratory automation products and the needs that they fulfill.

Mettler-Toledo introduced several additions to its Automated Chemistry line at this year's Pittcon. Among these new products was the MultiMax automated multiple reactor system for parallel synthesis. Designed for the pharmaceutical and fine chemicals industry, the MultiMax' modular reactor block system can be equipped with up to four 50 mL glass reactors. MultiMax accommodates in situ FT-IR and a number of other analytical methods.

Personal Chemistry of Sweden introduced its Organic Synthesizer at Pittcon 2000, which is the first completely automated chemical synthesis system. It performs around twenty reactions at about 100 times the speed of manual synthesis using patented focused microwave technology. The synthesizer can do approximately 150 reaction in a day. Although other companies have organic synthesis systems, in general, they have not been reliable and they are not as fast as this product. In addition, the synthesizer is capable of a 95% purity rate and a reaction time of around five minutes. The system is installed in a laboratory by the company, which also provides training and service.