New Solid Phase Extraction Technology for Bioanalysis is Designed to Provide Robust, Reproducible Extractions at Low Elution Volumes

A trend in bioanalysis is moving toward methods that require higher levels of sensitivity and reproducibility with decreasing sample volumes. To meet these needs, Thermo Fisher Scientific has introduced Thermo Scientific SOLAµ solid phase extraction (SPE) micro elution plates.  

SOLAµ products made their debut during HPLC 2014, at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside in New Orleans, earlier this month.

Using award-winning SOLA SPE technology, SOLAµ plates are designed to deliver robust, reproducible processing at elution volumes as low as 25 µL. In company-conducted experiments, the new SPE plates have improved sensitivity over comparable SPE products as much as twenty-fold due to improved pre-concentration while maintaining high levels of reproducibility. The SOLA macro-porous structure is designed for robust, reproducible results with consistent sample and solvent flow through the SPE stationary phase, which can mitigate blockages caused by viscous biological samples.

The low elution volumes accommodated by SOLAµ plates can provide a more efficient workflow by removing the blow-down stage of the SPE process. It offers the added benefit of more stability for molecules that are susceptible to adsorption and solvation issues.

“We have worked with our customers to understand their challenges and pain points in processing bioanalytical samples in a high throughput, highly regulated environment”, said Mike Oliver, sample preparation product manager for Thermo Fisher Scientific. “With the SOLAµ SPE product, we have developed a solution that provides a truly robust micro elution platform for reproducibility with low sample and elution volumes. Our customers can have more confidence in their results while improving their workflow efficiency”.

SOLAµ SPE products are available in 96-well-plate format and include: SOLAµ HRP (reverse phase), SOLAµ SCX (mixed-mode strong cation exchange), SOLAµ SAX (mixed-mode strong anion exchange), SOLAµ WCX (mixed-mode weak cation exchange) and SOLAµ WAX (mixed-mode weak anion exchange) stationary phases.

Using a proprietary design and manufacturing technique, SOLAµ plates combine polyethylene frit materials and stationary phase materials into a uniform stationary phase.  This mitigates problems caused by voiding, channeling and packing inconsistencies, which can cause variability in results.  The design enhances reproducibility, well to well, plate to plate and batch to batch.

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