Author Archives: Steven Miles

Talking HPLC Columns with Dr. David Fatunmbi

The new Color HPLC Columns continue to draw attention here at the Eastern Analytical Symposium.Micky Jones, Steven Miles, Dr. David Fatunmbi

Answering HPLC questionsBesides the practical aspect of knowing which packing material you have inside a column based on the color outside, our HPLC columns utilize proprietary bonding technologies from Separation Methods Technologies that result in bonded phase coverage approaching 100%.

Dr. David Fatunmbi of SMT is the person responsible for this exciting development and has spent some time answering questions from visitors to our booth and helping people out with their HPLC issues.

Day Two of EAS 09, Education is the key

One of the great things about the Eastern Analytical Symposium is the number of high school and college students who are broeas education 1ught here to learn more about analytical chemistry.

eas education 2Our General Manager, Steven Miles, is an excellent teacher and enjoys engaging students with examples of chromatography from the basics of Thin Layer Chromatography to the latest advances in HPLC.

Day One of EAS 2009

We are having a great time at the Eastern Analytical Symposium (EAS) in Somerset, New Jersey.EAS09

We’ve met with doctors, distributors, students, lab managers, professors, and many more who want to see what we can do in the field of chromatography.

EAS holds a special place for us, it was at last year’s show when Micky got the idea to add color to our HPLC columns, making them not only memorable, but much more practical – it’s so much easier to tell what’s on the inside of the column when the outside is color-coded.

EAS09If you are attending EAS, please stop by Booth #524, and whether you can make it or not, be sure to check out the live updates from our Twitter Feed @iChromatography.

EAS091 EAS092

Preparing for the Eastern Analytical Symposium

Every year at this time, we look forward to attending EAS – EASthe Eastern Analytical Symposium & Exposition in Somerset, New Jersey.

If you’re attending EAS this year, please stop by Booth #524 and say “Hi” (oh yea, and check out our color HPLC columns).

Click Here for more information about EAS.

Click Here to see more from our visit last year.

LCGC’s “The Column” Cover Story: Unlocking the doors with TLC

The new issue of LCGC’s “The Column” features a great The columncover story on Thin Layer Chromatography. The article, written by Analtech Technical Director Ned Dugan, explores the many ways TLC is being used.

The article focuses on some key examples:

  • Fighting the Scourge of Counterfeit Medications
  • Protecting Infants from Patulin Contamination
  • Identifying a new nucleotide in human DNA
  • Identifying the H1N1 Virus
  • Use in Forensic Science

Click Here to see the entire issue.

Chromatography plays part in Nobel Prize Winners’ work

Congratulations to Elizabeth Blackburn, Carol Greider, and Carol GreiderJack Szostak the 2009 Nobel Prize Winners for medicine.

The three scientists are being honored for discovering a key mechanism in the genetic operations of cells, which has led to new lines of research into cancer.

We would be remiss at this point if we didn’t point out the role chromatography played in their Elizabeth Blackburnresearch. The following are excerpts from the book, “Elizabeth Blackburn and the story of Telomeres – Deciphering the ends of DNA” by Catherine Brady:

“Oligonuclieotides that ran at a similar rate were further separated using chromatography (two-dimensional, or 2D, separation).”
Jack Szostak
“Knowing they would have to clean up the extract in order to begin purifying the enzyme, Greider now conducted column chromatography, which provided extensive purification of the enzyme.”

We would also like to point out that Carol Greider seems to have an excellent sense of humor, as noted in this interview with the Associated Press this morning:

Greider, 48, said she was telephoned by just before 5 a.m. her time with the news that she had won.

“It’s really very thrilling, it’s something you can’t expect,” she told The Associated Press by telephone.

People might make predictions of who might win, but one never expects it, she said, adding that “It’s like the Monty Python sketch, ‘Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!'”

So there you have it, chromatography and an appreciation for Monty Python can be keys to getting a Nobel Prize.

Again, congratulations to this years’ recipients – the world is a better place because of your contributions.

Science and Social Media

Here’s a few great tools to use to connect with others inBioCrowd the science community.

First, we have BioCrowd – A Social Network for Bioscience Professionals – click here to sign up

Next, for all who will be joining us at Pittcon, there’s PittConnect –  this is an excellent way for Pittcon 2010anyone to make connections well in advance of the conference. click here to check out PittConnect.

For anyone who want to connect with others using Chrommunitychromatography, be sure to theck out the CHROMmunity by clicking here.

Stay Connected!

Thin Layer Chromatography used in cancer research

We picked up this application of Thin Layer Chromatography from MyPlainview.com:research

While they haven’t exactly discovered a cure for cancer, what Hughes and Arauza did over the summer months does have quite a bit of value — both in terms of scientific research and in their own personal education and edification…

The pair technically started their research in the spring 2009 term after learning in November that they were chosen for the program. They spent the spring doing an extensive literature review once they chose a topic from the umbrella of choices they were presented.

They chose to follow a path started by May 2009 graduate Joanne Jacob, who had experimented with 12 different herbs and their effect on tumor growth in mice. One in particular had significant results in Jacob’s research, and the two coeds decided to further check out Ashwagandha, commonly known as Indian Ginseng and used by many to treat depression, inflammation and neurological disorders.

Using a powdered form of the root, Hughes and Arauza first rinsed it to remove any lipids, then ran a 6-hour process known as a Soxhlet to liquify the extract into a more usable form. Gray likened the process to a drip coffee maker, where heated water (or in this case methanol) runs through the extract and then back through repeatedly until it is complete.

Using thin-layer chromatography on glass plates, the team was able to separate the extract into various compounds. Through nearly 30 plates — a time-consuming process itself — the duo was able to identify one particular compound that was strong every time. They eluded the compound from the plate and tested it on 4T1 breast cancer cells grown in Petri dishes to determine how it would affect the cells.

The results were astonishing.

“This was really annihilating the breast cancer cells,” noted Arauza, pointing to a chart of the results that showed the cell growth was dramatically reduced compared to even the full extract. “This one was very potent; none of the others were even close.”

Click Here to read the complete story.

Analtech Video Campaign Inducted into Viral Marketing Hall of Fame

NEWARK, DE – Analtech, Inc., the only U.S.-based manufacturer of thin layer chromatography plates, was inducted today into MarketingSherpa’s 2009 Viral Marketing Hall of Fame for the company’s viral video, “The Adventures of Ana L’Tech.”

This is the fifth year MarketingSherpa, a research firm specializing in tracking what works in all aspects of marketing, has inducted members into the Hall of Fame. This year’s inductees include:
    •    Analtech’s Adventures of Ana L’Tech Video
    •    Atlassian’s Stimulus Package
    •    California State Parks Foundation’s Friend Get A Friend
    •    Disney’s What Will You Celebrate?
    •    Grasshopper’s Chocolate Covered Grasshopper Mailing
    •    Microsoft’s I Am Enabled
    •    Rita’s Italian Ice Mystery Flavor

“This is a great honor,” said Analtech General Manager Steven Miles, “We’ve enjoyed great feedback from our customers and colleagues for this project – we’re proud to now receive this recognition from MarketingSherpa.”

The video was produced by the Delaware Film Company and written and directed by Christopher Stout.

“I am proud of the work done by everyone in this project,” Stout said. “This recognition from MarketingSherpa demonstrates that every company, regardless of how much of a niche their market is, can benefit from a well produced viral campaign.”

Since the launch of “The Adventures of Ana L’Tech” in September of 2008, the video has been featured on dozens of web sites and blogs around the world and has received praise from those in both the scientific and comedic communities.
 
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