Robotic sampling

Table 4.15 fists the many possibilities for solid sampling for GC analysis. In general, sample preparation should be considered in close conjunction with injection. Robotic sample processors have been introduced for automatic preparation, solvent extraction and injection of samples for GC and GC-MS analyses. Usually, facilities are included for solvent, reagent, and standard additions and for derivatisation of samples. 

Flow NMR has recently been eclipsed by the advent of robotic sample handling systems capable of dealing with very small sample quantities and volumes. We now have a system operating in our laboratory that makes up samples directly into 1 mm NMR tubes, using only about 8 ul of solvent. These can be run under automation and the tubes emptied back into the plate wells by the same robot. This technology offers superior performance and largely gets around the problems of contamination and recovery. 

The European Molecular Biology Laboratory s (EMBL s) offers a well-equipped pro-teomics laboratory in its facilities at the Proteomics Visitor Facility (Heidelberg, Germany). The services in MB concern protein isolation, imaging, and robotics sample preparation, supported by some other analytical facilities. 

Typical protein precipitation procedures use one volume of plasma plus three to six volumes of acetonitrile or methanol (or a mixture) with the internal standard at an appropriate concentration for the assay. Poison et al.102 reported that protein precipitation using acetonitrile eliminates at least 95% of the proteins after filtration or centrifugation, the supernatant can often be directly injected into the HPLC/MS/MS system. Usually this step is performed using 96-well plates that are ideal for semi-automation of sample preparation. Briem et al.103 reported on a robotic sample preparation system for plasma based on a protein precipitation step and a robotic liquid handling system that increased throughput by a factor of four compared to a manual system. 

The apphcations described here illustrate the wide range of uses for robotic systems. This chapter is not intended to he exhaustive there are many other examples of successful applications, some of which are referenced below. For instance, Brodach et al. [34] have described the use of a single robot to automate the production of several positron-emitting radiopharmaceuticals and TTiompson et al. [3S] have reported on a robotic sampler in operation in a radiochemical laboratory. Both of these apphcations have safety imphcations. CHnical apphcations are also important, and Castellani et al. [36] have described the use of robotic sample preparation for the immunochemical determination of cardiac isoenzymes. Lochmuller et al. [37], on the other hand, have used a robotic system to study reaction kinetics of esterification. 

Robotic Sample Processor 510 TECAN US P.O. Box 2485 Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27515,... 

Compatible with most robotic sample preparation devices, reducing labor and increasing speed and reproducibility... 

Optional) Robotic sample changer to facilitate exchange of samples for diffraction analysis (reeNote 8). 

Classical liquid-liquid and liquid-solid extractions are recently receiving additional examination, as new injection techniques for GC have made very simple, low-volume extractions feasible. Recently, several commercial systems for large-volume liquid injections (up to 150 pL all at once, or up to 1 to 2 mL over a short period of time) have become available. When combined with robotic sampling systems, these have become powerful tools in the trace analysis of a variety of sample types. Due to its simplicity, classical liquid-liquid extraction is often the method of choice for sample preparation. Some of the robotic samplers available for this type of analysis, such as the LEAP Technologies Combi-PAL robotic sampler, which has been licensed by several instrument vendors, are also capable of performing automated SPME and SHE. 

C. Hatfield, E. Halloran, J. Habarta, S. Romeno, and W. Mason, Multi-product robotic sample preparation in the pharmaceutical quality assurance laboratory. In Advances in Laboratory Automation Robotics 1984 (J. R. Strimaitis and G. L. Hawk, Zymark Corp., Hopkinton, MA, 1984, p. 105. 

Figure 6 The SELDI technology. This type of proteomic analytical tool is a class of mass spectroscopy instrument that is useful in high-throughput proteomic fingerprinting of serum. Using a robotic sample dispenser, 1 p,L of serum is applied to the surface of a protein-binding chip. A subset of the proteins in the sample binds to the surface of the chip. The bound proteins are treated with a matrix-assisted laser desorption and ionization matrix and are washed and dried. The chip, which contains multiple patient samples, is inserted into a vacuum chamber where it is irradiated with a laser. The laser desorbs the adherent proteins and causes them to be launched as ions. The TOF of the ion before detection by an electrode is a measure of the mass-to-charge (m/z) value of the ion. The ion spectra can be analyzed by computer-assisted tools that classify a subset of the spectra by characteristic patterns of relative intensity (adapted from www.evmsdoctors.com).

This robotic sample preparation and counting technology, together with mechanical improvements in the chemical separation system, has resulted in an automated column chromatography system that can run almost autonomously, whereas several people were required to operate the ARCA II system for a transactinide chemistry experiment. 

Automation of the analytical process by use of robotic equipment (robotic stations and workstations included) can reach from a single step to the whole analytical sequence. The number of steps that are robotized should be dictated by the user s experience and judgement, always as a function of the target process, costs, number of samples to be processed, etc. Straightforward single-task uses of robots, robotic sample preparation procedures and fully robotized methods are discussed below, as are more rational uses in combination with other techniques intended to ensure optimum development of each step of the analytical process. 

Robotic sample changing and automated data collection is an increasingly important aspect in the efficient utilization of MAS NMR for combinato-... 

Products/technologies Robotic sample introduction for automated MS and LC-MS includes the HP 1100 HPLC unit (automated LC-FTMS) and the Gilson 215 for 96/384 microtiter plates. 

Products/technologies The company sells the CombiTec parallel synthesis system, an organic chemical synthesizer that includes a robotic sample processor, and reaction blocks of 8-56 chambers. Other products include the TRAC system for high-throughput screening with more than 100 microplates the GENESIS Series Robotic Sample Processor (RSP) fully automated microplate-based systems and the Cavro RSP 9000 Robotic Sample Processor (XYZ module). 

Rosen, J. M., O Leary, M., Eotino, W, Ryall, R. R., and Gehrlein, L. PyTechnology robotic sample preparation procedures for potency and content uniformity analysis of ceflxime, an orally active cephalosporin solid dosage form. Adv. Lab. Autom. Rob. 5 363-379, 1989. 

Zhang, L. Laycock, J.D. Hayos, J. Flynn, J. Yesionek, G. Miller, K.J. Automated Strategies for Protein Precipitation Filtration and Solid Phase Extraction (SPE) Optimization on the TECAN Robotic Sample Processor—Applications in Quantitative LC-MS/MS Bioanalysis, paper presented at LabAutomation 2004, February 1-5,2004, San Jose, CA. 

The desire for rapid MS analysis is currently pushing manufactmers to automate. The simultaneous developments of robotic sample preparation stations, faster mass spectrometers, and small online introduction devices (i.e., chips), will augment this automation. We may someday utilize mass spectrometer arrays analyzing hundreds of different protein samples at once. Rapid MALDI-MS tissue imaging could one day be used to identify and map proteins, and diagnose disease. 

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