Concentrating on Chromatography

What if you could dry biofluid samples in the field—without a vacuum system, freeze dryer, or full lab setup?In this episode of Concentrating on Chromatography, I sit down with Rajas Poorna and Charles Anderson to explore their work on a frugal, field-deployable alternative to traditional lyophilization through the Evapinator project.Originally inspired by the principles of frugal science, their approach rethinks how we stabilize and prepare biofluid samples like blood and plasma—especially in environments where traditional lab infrastructure simply isn’t available.--- 🔬 What This Episode Covers: 🧪 A Frugal Take on Lyophilization* Can you replicate the outcome of a lyophilizer without the complexity?* Why traditional freeze drying is often too expensive and impractical for field use* How simplifying evaporation could unlock entirely new workflows 🌍 Drying Biofluids in the Field* The real-world challenge of handling blood and other biofluids outside the lab* Why sample stability during transport is such a critical bottleneck* How a portable system could enable on-site sample prep in remote or resource-limited settings ⚗️ Rethinking Evaporation (No Vacuum Required)* The core idea behind the Evapinator—and how it challenges conventional assumptions* The role of airflow, heat, and design in drying sensitive samples* Where this approach fits relative to traditional evaporation and lyophilization techniques 🛠️ Early Results & Practical Insights* What’s working so far—and where limitations still exist* The types of applications where this approach shows the most promise* What still needs to be validated in upcoming peer-reviewed work--- ⚗️ Why This MattersFrom clinical research in remote regions to decentralized diagnostics, the ability to dry and preserve biofluid samples in the field could fundamentally change how and where analysis happens.This conversation challenges a core assumption in analytical science:Do you really need a full lyophilizer—or even a vacuum—to stabilize biofluid samples?--- 🚀 What’s NextThis is Part 1 of the conversation.In the follow-up episode, we’ll dive into the peer-reviewed data, performance validation, and how this approach compares directly to traditional lyophilization and evaporation systems.---## 🎧 About the Show @ChromatographyTalk  explores the people, technologies, and ideas shaping analytical science—from the lab bench to the field.

In this episode of Concentrating on Chromatography, host Dave Oliva sits down with Chris Reid to explore how chemical biology and LC-MS are being used to tackle one of the most urgent global challenges: antimicrobial resistance.As antibiotic resistance continues to rise—and new drug development struggles to keep pace—researchers are looking beyond traditional approaches. Instead of targeting how bacteria build their cell walls, Chris’s work focuses on how they break them down, opening the door to entirely new antimicrobial strategies.--- 🔬 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:* Why antimicrobial resistance is accelerating globally* What peptidoglycan is and why it’s essential to bacterial survival* How targeting cell wall degradation differs from traditional antibiotics* The strategy behind designing small molecule probes and inhibitors* How LC-MS is used to analyze peptidoglycan fragments and enzyme activity* Key analytical challenges: complex mixtures, low-abundance species, and structural similarity* The importance of sample preparation and reproducibility in LC-MS workflows* How this research could lead to new antibiotic targets--- ⚗️ LC-MS in FocusThis episode dives deep into how LC-MS enables:* Detection of peptidoglycan fragment profiles* Analysis of cross-linking patterns via retention time and mass* Identification of structural changes using tandem mass spectrometryChris also shares practical insights on:* Sample prep challenges with insoluble biomaterials* Common pitfalls in LC-MS workflows* How to ensure consistent, reproducible data--- 🚀 Why This MattersWith bacteria rapidly evolving resistance to existing drugs, the need for new antimicrobial strategies has never been greater. This research highlights how combining chemistry, biology, and analytical science can uncover entirely new ways to fight infection.--- 🎧 About the Show @ChromatographyTalk  explores the intersection of analytical chemistry, sample preparation, and real-world applications across research and industry.--- 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations on:* LC-MS & chromatography* Sample preparation strategies* Real-world analytical workflows* Emerging applications in life sciences--- 🧠 Key Takeaway “We’re rapidly running out of tools in our arsenal to combat resistant organisms.”

What if most PFAS contamination isn’t even being measured?In this episode of Concentrating on Chromatography, we sit down with Dr. Leigh Terry from the University of Alabama to explore one of the biggest challenges in environmental analysis today: understanding—and accurately measuring—PFAS in water systems.While most regulatory methods focus on a small number of compounds like PFOA and PFOS, there may be thousands of PFAS compounds in the environment—and much of that burden goes undetected.--- 🔬 In this episode, we cover:* Why PFAS are called “forever chemicals” (and why that label is evolving)* The limitations of targeted LC-MS/MS methods* What the fluorine mass balance problem reveals about PFAS destruction* How combustion ion chromatography (CIC) helps measure total organofluorine* Why “99.99% removal” doesn’t always mean what you think* Where PFAS actually end up in wastewater treatment systems* The most effective technologies for PFAS removal today* Why drinking water may only account for ~20% of total PFAS exposure--- 💡 Key Insight:Even when analyzing dozens of PFAS compounds, researchers may only be capturing a small fraction of total organic fluorine—raising major questions about how we monitor and regulate these contaminants.--- 👤 About Our Guest:Dr. Leigh Terry leads research focused on water quality, emerging contaminants, and PFAS monitoring and treatment, combining advanced analytical chemistry with real-world environmental applications.--- 🎧 About the Podcast:Concentrating on Chromatography explores the intersection of analytical chemistry, mass spectrometry, and real-world lab applications—featuring researchers solving today’s most important scientific challenges.---👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations with leaders in chromatography and analytical science.--- 🔗 Connect & Learn More:* Follow Dr. Leigh Terry’s work* Explore PFAS research and water quality topics* Subscribe for future episodes  --- #Tags#PFAS #WaterQuality #Chromatography #MassSpectrometry #LCMS #EnvironmentalScience #AnalyticalChemistry #ForeverChemicals

In this episode of Concentrating on Chromatography, David Oliva sits down with Amanda Guiraldelli Mahr to break down one of the most important (and often misunderstood) concepts in analytical chemistry: Analytical Quality by Design (AQbD).If you’ve ever relied on trial-and-error for method development—or wondered how top labs are using Design of Experiments (DOE), modeling, and AI to work smarter—this episode is for you.Amanda shares insights from her work across small molecules, peptides, proteins, and biopharmaceuticals, including her experience with LC-MS, metabolomics, impurity analysis, and oligonucleotide therapeutics.--- What You’ll Learn in This Episode:* What AQbD actually means (in simple terms)* How DOE differs from traditional one-factor-at-a-time experiments* Why modern labs are shifting toward predictive, data-driven method development* The biggest benefits of DOE: more insight with fewer experiments** Real-world example: optimizing oligonucleotide impurity separations using AQbD * Key LC parameters that impact performance (pH, gradient, column, temperature)* Challenges of working with large molecules vs. small molecules* Tools and software for DOE and chromatographic modeling* How AI and modeling are shaping the future of chromatography --- Key Takeaway“Shift your mindset from testing to understanding.”--- 👩‍🔬 **Who This Episode Is For:* Undergraduate and graduate chemistry students* Analytical scientists and method developers* Pharma & biopharma professionals* Anyone working with LC, LC-MS, or chromatography method development--- 🔗 Connect with AmandaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-guiraldelli-mahr-05501684/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-guiraldelli-mahr-05501684/)--- 🎙️ **About the Podcast**Concentrating on Chromatography explores the people, tools, and ideas shaping the future of analytical science.---📌 KeywordsChromatography, LC-MS, Analytical Chemistry, AQbD, Design of Experiments, DOE, Method Development, Biopharma, Oligonucleotides, Mass Spectrometry, Pharmaceutical Analysis

In this episode of Concentrating on Chromatography, we sit down with Kelly Broster McMahon to explore the analytical science behind one of the most important pharmaceutical trends today: GLP-1 therapeutics.Drugs like Semaglutide have transformed the treatment of diabetes and obesity—but ensuring their safety, efficacy, and quality requires cutting-edge analytical workflows.In this conversation, we break down how chromatography and high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-MS) work together to characterize complex peptide therapeutics, detect trace-level impurities, and support drug development from early research through regulated manufacturing.🔬 What You’ll Learn* Why GLP-1 drugs are uniquely challenging to analyze* How LC-MS enables detailed peptide characterization* The importance of detecting low-level impurities for patient safety* How analytical workflows scale from R&D to manufacturing* The role of software and data platforms in modern labs* Where chromatography and mass spectrometry are heading next 🧠 Key TakeawaysGLP-1 therapeutics are a “proof point” for the future of analytical chemistry—where success depends not on measuring more, but on measuring the right things earlier, with confidence.As molecules become more complex, integrated workflows combining chromatography, high-resolution mass spectrometry, and advanced informatics are becoming essential to ensure data integrity, regulatory compliance, and ultimately, patient safety. 🎙 About the GuestKelly Broster McMahon is a Senior Manager of Market Development and Collaborations at Thermo Fisher Scientific, with over 15 years of experience in LC-MS and protein mass spectrometry. Her work focuses on translating complex analytical challenges into scalable, compliant workflows for the biopharmaceutical industry.🔗 About the Podcast @ChromatographyTalk  on Chromatography explores the science and workflows behind separation science, mass spectrometry, and analytical chemistry.GLP-1 drugs, semaglutide analysis, LC-MS, mass spectrometry, chromatography, peptide therapeutics, impurity analysis, biopharma analytics, Orbitrap, UHPLC, analytical chemistry podcast