Drug Discovery, Pharmaceuticals & Cannabis Testing
Automated extraction of metabolites from plant tissue samples: A case study for THCA and terpenoids from cannabis fl owers
Tecan
Tecan’s experience in mass spectrometry and chromatography sample preparation spans from innovative instruments to consumables products to a deep understanding of required applications. Whether you need to extract THC and THC metabolites through liquid-liquid extraction (LLE), supported liquid extraction (SLE), or solid phase extraction (SPE), Tecan has the right automation solution for you.
The Resolvex® standalone instrument portfolio helps low- to mid-throughput laboratories easily with SLE and SPE. Compatible with many products of different vendors, Tecan also offers its own selection of SLE and SPE materials.
For full automation, Tecan`s fl agship liquid handling platform Fluent® supports GLP-, GMP- or IVDR-validated workfl ows. With recent enhancements, including the Phase Separator for fully automated LLE, and the Resolvex i300 for SPE in 96-well and 1ml, 3ml, 6ml columns, Fluent is the ideal instrument for forensics applications involving drug analysis.
Tecan presents one of its most recent developments in the Resolvex® instrument series: the Resolvex® Prep, specifi cally designed for extraction workfl ows such as the extraction of tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) and terpenoids from cannabis fl owers. This instrument provides a fully automated, end-to-end solution for sample preparation in chromatography and mass spectrometry, tailored for low- and medium-throughput laboratories.
The Resolvex Prep is built around the principles of simplicity in operation, heightened fl exibility and unrivalled precision and accuracy, making it an essential tool for advancing laboratory workfl ows.
Simplicity in operation
The Resolvex Prep can be operational in less than an hour, thanks to its intuitive interface and automated calibration procedures. The smart software allows users to quickly create new workfl ows using a drag-and-drop function to select required hardware such as syringes, vials, and racks. Predefi ned coordinates further minimise setup time, enabling researchers to focus on their work with minimal delays.
Using a validated manual extraction and fi ltration procedure, the Resolvex Prep automates the following liquid handling steps, including extraction, fi ltration, and aliquoting into fi nal vials, starting with 0.5 g of pre-weighed cannabis fl owers in a 20 mL EPA enviro vial:
• Add 10 mL of ethanol (96%) • Vortex for 10 minutes at 510 rpm • Pause for 2 minutes to allow the cannabis fl owers to settle • Take 2 mL of supernatant and fi lter through a 0.2 µm syringe fi lter into intermediate vials • Prepare fi nal autosampler vials by aliquoting 900 µL of ethanol • Add 100 µL of the supernatant fi ltrate to the prepared fi nal autosampler vials
The entire autosampler rack is then seamlessly transferred for analysis.
The patented rotating foot provides operational advantages, enabling automated tool changes for analytical syringes, SPE cartridges, µSPEed syringes, syringe disc fi lters, controlled piercing of septa-sealed vials, as well as precise aspirating and dispensing. Its capabilities are further enhanced by features such as a wash station, an optional large volume dispenser, and an optional direct injection port.
Unrivalled precision and accuracy
The Resolvex Prep uses analytical syringes ranging from 10 µL to 10 mL to ensure exceptional reliability and accuracy in sample preparation. With 12 different syringes and tools available, users can tailor their workfl ows to meet specifi c requirements. The automated tool change system enables seamless transitions, empowering users with maximum fl exibility.
The automated extraction process demonstrated excellent performance, yielding 25.4% total THCA at a 99.1% recovery rate and a 97.5% recovery rate for terpenoids, comparable to a GMP-validated manual protocol.
Capable of handling batch sizes from 5 to 50 samples with consistent effi ciency and accuracy, the Resolvex Prep completes Tecan’s portfolio for sample preparation in mass spectrometry and chromatography for smaller laboratories.
Heightened fl exibility
The Resolvex Prep features a modular deck layout that accommodates common laboratory sample and autosampler racks (Agilent®, Waters®, Shimadzu®, CTC®, EST®, Hitachi®), solvent reservoirs, and labware in interchangeable positions. Using radio-frequency identifi cation (RFID), the instrument automatically identifi es deck segments, while proximity sensors detect the presence or absence of labware.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48
