''Eksigent Chip Column Family expanded for Nano and Micro LC Proteomics Analysis''  

AB SCIEX, announced the extension of its Eksigent line of column chips for the cHiPLC®-nanoflex system. Five new chips were introduced expanding the flexibility and application of the system for high-performance proteomics analysis including biomarker discovery, validation and verification. The extended offering adds higher flow micro cHiPLC columns for peptide separation at increased throughput levels, as well as new phases for the analysis of intact proteins, phosphopeptides and glycans. All cHiPLC-nanoflex columns are designed and microfabricated to be robust and highly reproducible, providing superior-quality separations that are easy to obtain by users at all experience levels.

Nanoflow liquid chromatography coupled with nanoelectrospray MS is the method of choice for protein and peptide analysis. The Eksigent cHiPLC-nanoflex System, launched in 2009, delivers high reproducibility at nano- and microflow rates, plus ease of use. The system is a docking station for up to three column chips. Eksigent’s proprietary EksPortTM microconnector system ensures reliable and consistent connections to facilitate column changes.

Chips can be interchanged in seconds, even by inexperienced users, with minimal dead volume to compromise resolution. This enables users to easily switch between workflows. The proprietary microfabrication process used for both the trap chips and analytical column chips delivers exceptional column-to-column reproducibility.

The cHiPLC-nanoflex can be added to any of Eksigent’s nanoLC systems and interfaced to AB SCIEX TripleTOF™ 5600 for biomarker discovery and the AB SCIEX QTRAP® 5500 for verification and validation, as well as other mass spectrometers.

“Chromatography on the nano and micro scale has traditionally suffered from reproducibility and robustness limitations, and our cHiPLC columns deliver significant improvements,” commented Remco van Soest, director of Eksigent HPLC product management for AB SCIEX. “This is part of our effort to develop and introduce new cHiPLC columns on an ongoing basis to meet the needs of our proteomics customers.”