The secrets of the metabolome hold huge discovery potential for pharmaceutical researchers. While GC-MS remains the method of choice for metabolomic analysis and research, limited resolving power and detection capabilities still pose challenges to pharmaceutical workflows, risk critical oversights and hinder depth of analysis.
This infographic explores the role of high-resolution GC-MS in pharmaceutical research and highlights the latest, sensitive solutions for a greater insights into the metabolome.
Download this infographic to explore:
• Some of the common pharmaceutical applications of GC-MS workflows
• Chromatographic resolving power and its effect on discovery and analysis
• Solutions that can maintain workflow sensitivity while decreasing mass error
Look deeper into
the metabolome
with high-resolution
GC-MS
Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)
is a core analytical technique used to identify and
characterize small molecule metabolites. While
GC-MS remains a gold-standard approach,
achieving sufficient resolution while maintaining
analytical sensitivity remains a challenge in
biopharmaceutical workflows.
This infographic explores the role of high-resolution
GC-MS in biopharmaceutical and metabolomics
research. It also highlights the latest, sensitive
solutions for a greater depth of analysis.
Pharmaceutical
applications
include:
Metabolism
Toxicology
studies
Biomarker
Drug
discovery
discovery
The GC-MS analysis
Data collection
workflow
While GC-MS workflows vary depending on their applications
and objectives, most share common elements including data
collection, annotation and chemical structure elucidation.
Peak
detection
Statistical
analysis
Molecular
confirmation
Structure
elucidation
Resolving a common challenge
Mass resolution refers to a system’s ability to distinguish between
adjacent ion peaks. Ions with similar mass-to-charge ratios (m/z)
may produce peaks that are difficult to distinguish if an instrument
is not capable of a high mass resolution (i.e., it has a low resolving
power or RP).1
.1
Low resolution
(15,000 RP)
Compound A
Higher resolution
Matrix
(60,000 RP)
Compound A
Highest
resolution
Matrix
(240,000 RP)
An RP of >60,000 can help you:
Avoid false negatives
Increase discovery power
Analyse more complex samples
Achieve more accurate quantification
Greater resolution for confident compound identification
The Thermo Scientific™ Orbitrap Exploris™ GC 240 mass spectrometer can help achieve an unprecedented depth of analysis through
c™
s™
the highest data quality. Capable of a maximum resolving power of 240,000 (FWHM at m/z 200) this benchtop device offers increased
accuracy, sensitivity, selectivity and flexibility as you look deeper into the metabolome.
High resolving
Greater
capability
sensitivity
Analytical
Targeted and
power and
untargeted
flexibility
workflows
While increased resolving power can result in decreased instrument sensitivity in some systems, the Orbitrap Exploris™ GC
s™
240 offers users the highest sensitivity at any resolution. This makes it the perfect solution for low-level targeted screening,
quantification and profiling in complex samples.
Other systems
Orbitrap Exploris GC 240
Resolving power
Resolving power
Sensitivity
Sensitivity
With the Orbitrap Exploris™ GC 240, an increased RP results in improved mass accuracy. This means that small mass differences
s™
can be accurately detected, giving you confidence in your data.
Resolving power
Resolving power
.
.
Mass error
Mass error
.
.
• Increase accuracy (<1 ppm)
• Reduce matrix interference
• Increase confidence in compound identification
• Reduce false positives
Compound A
Compound B
Compound C
15,000
60,000
240,000
Resolving power
References
1. Cooper J, Roberts D, Cojocariu C. Mass resolving power of 240,000: for confident compound identification. ThermoFisher Scientific. 2020 https://assets.thermofisher.com/TFS-Assets/CMD/Technical-Notes/tn-10730-gc-ms
power-
confident-compound-identification-tn10730-en.pdf Accessed June 2023.
Discover a greater depth of analysis with high-resolution GC-MS
For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.
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Mass accuracy (ppm)