Thermo Fisher looks to advance throughput, quality of proteomics workflows
Image: Thermo Scientific Vanquish Neo Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography (UHPLC) System
November saw Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc announce proteomics related developments and a series of co-marketing agreements with industry experts.
Those relationships as well as new additions to its mass spectrometry (MS) and chromatography instruments are aimed, it said, at advancing the throughput, comprehensiveness and quality of proteomics workflows for applications such as single-cell studies and translational research.
“Proteomics research has the potential to expand our scientific understanding and uncover new biomarkers to meet unmet medical needs,” said Andreas Huhmer, senior director, life sciences research omics marketing, Thermo Fisher Scientific. “While there has been significant progress in our ability to perform advanced analyses such as single-cell and translational proteomics, there are still improvements needed in the efficiency and reproducibility of workflows. The agreements we’re announcing today, will enable us to continue to deliver innovative proteomics solutions to customers with a goal to make these workflows accessible to everyone.”
Firstly, Thermo Fisher said it was extending its co-marketing agreement with Biognosys, a developer of next-generation proteomics solutions, to provide laboratories performing high-throughput plasma analysis with innovative and streamlined instruments, kits and software to enable efficient and accurate workflows at scale.
Chromatography portfolio
A new addition to its chromatography instruments, Thermo Fisher said the Vanquish Neo Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography (UHPLC) System is designed for high-sensitivity LC-MS applications, with excellent analytical performance at flow rates from 1 nL/min to 100 µL/min up to 1500 bar.
The separation capabilities and reproducibility of this all-in-one nano-, capillary- and micro-flow LC system will help users to overcome limitations of existing low-flow LC instruments, said the developer.
Thermo Fisher has also extended its chromatography portfolio through the acquisition of Belgium-based PharmaFluidics, the developer of the μPAC range of micro-chip-based chromatography columns.
The µPAC portfolio of columns enhance LC performance in biomarker, proteomics and drug research and development applications, helping biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies uncover new insights and advance scientific discovery, added the company.
Single-cell proteomics workflow
Lastly, a co-marketing agreement between Thermo Fisher and Cellenion, experts in single-cell sample preparation solutions, is aimed at delivering a full workflow, from sample to results, for scientists performing single-cell proteomics analysis.
“Laborious sample preparation has typically held back single-cell MS methods. To overcome this, Cellenion’s sample preparation solution, cellenONE, combines single-cell isolation and nanoliter dispensing to perform every step of the sample preparation using a single device.
“With single-cell proteomics providing vital information on the state of individual cells within heterogeneous environments, the combination of this sample preparation technology with Thermo Fisher’s TMT multiplexing technologies and Orbitrap mass spectrometers will open new doors for researchers.”