New <i>Nexera-e</i> Comprehensive LCxLC System from Shimadzu

Shimadzu, one of the world leaders in analytical instrumentation, has released its Nexera-e comprehensive LCxLC system. The “e” stands for exponential chromatography, exponential increase of peak resolution and peak capacity using the comprehensive LCxLC technology.

By combining two orthogonal separation modes, this system separates even the most complex mixtures such as structural analogues in food and natural extracts in one analysis. With a conventional 1DLC system, this is nearly impossible to achieve.

Analysis and identification of unknown compounds in complex matrices
The Nexera-e targets the food and chemical industries as well as polymer and pharmaceutical industries. The new system specializes in the analysis of natural products, complex mixtures, bio-pharmaceuticals and new developments. Higher peak resolution and peak capacity enable the analysis of multiple compounds (chemical structure classes) in a single chromatogram. One injection and sample preparation instead of multiple approaches underlines the system’s efficiency. Nexera-e combines slow and ultra-fast methods in one LC system.

Background to the development
A conventional 1D-LC system does not have enough separation efficiency to separate natural extracts and all of their chemical classes, such as polyphenols, carotenoids, flavonoids and lipids. The comprehensive 2D-LC system enables separation of such groups comprehensively in one-time analysis by combining two independent separation modes (i.e. normal phase and reversed phase).

The Nexera-e comprehensive 2D-LC system achieves the highest possible peak capacity by fractionating the 1st-dimensional eluent and, with dual-loop alternate switching design, successively injecting the entire fractions on-line to the 2nd-dimensional system. This is beneficial in a wide range of research fields, including not only the impurity analysis of pharmaceuticals but also the analysis of proteolytic digests, food and natural extracts, petroleum components, latex and polymer additives and residual pesticides. It offers screening of the effective ingredients, structural analyses and differential analyses at the same time.

Outstanding performance for enhanced separation and high speed analysis
The Nexera-e has superior peak capacity far exceeding normal LC, and is capable of higher separation of structural analogues contained e.g. in natural extracts. A typical comprehensive 2D-LC system applies a low flow rate in the 1st-dimension and UHPLC analysis with ultra-fast cycle times in the 2nd-dimension. The LC-30AD solvent delivery unit in the Nexera-e system allows a wide range of separation parameters to be selected for both 1st- and 2nd-dimensional LC analysis. Other components also make certain data analysis possible with excellent reproducibility by adopting each component of Nexera X2 with its outstanding performance.

Reliable analysis for the targeted compounds: Highly sensitive LC/MS/MS and PDA detector
The Nexera-e combines continuous two-dimensional UHPLC with high-sensitive LC/MS/MS, LCMS-IT-TOF and photodiode array detection. The best-in-class sensitive LCMS-8050 triple quadrupole LC/MS/MS with ultrafast positive-negative ionization switching function and ultrafast scanning function makes the analysis of structural analogues easy. The SPD-M30A photodiode array detector with 85 mm length flow cell provides highly sensitive analysis of trace components.

Ease of use and special software tools for method development
The Nexera-e data analysis software, ChromSquare, is a powerful tool for data processing and presentation. It offers an interactive user interface so as to see detailed information on each spot at a glance. ChromSquare, a product of the Italian company Chromaleont, displays contour plots (general and magnified views), high resolution MS/MS spectra and 2nd-dimensional MS chromatograms on the same screen. This means that information for the component selected in the contour line plot display area is shown linked in the MS spectrum and chromatogram displays, making the data easy to see and analyze.

The LCxLC-Assist software supports creating of Nexera-e methods and includes an auto gradient function that resolves the problem of separation and peak shape for respective components in the 2nd-dimensional LC. The software makes it easy to create gradient parameter settings that change the 2nd-dimensional gradient elution parameters based on 1st-dimensional gradient elution.