EVOLUTE® EXPRESS 96-Well SPE Plates

Significance of the Topic

Efficient, high-throughput sample preparation is critical in modern analytical laboratories, particularly for bioanalysis, environmental testing, and pharmaceutical research. Traditional solid phase extraction (SPE) workflows require multiple conditioning and equilibration steps, which increase processing time and introduce variability. The development of improved SPE plate formats that streamline or eliminate these steps can significantly enhance laboratory productivity and data consistency.

Objectives and Study Overview

This technical note evaluates the EVOLUTE® EXPRESS 96-well SPE plates, designed to combine innovative hardware with water-wettable polymer sorbents. The main objectives are to demonstrate a simplified Load-Wash-Elute procedure that omits conditioning and equilibration, assess analyte recovery and reproducibility across diverse sorbent chemistries, and compare processing times with standard SPE methods.

Methodology and Instrumentation

Five mixed-mode polymer sorbents were tested: ABN (simultaneous neutral, acidic, and basic extraction), CX (basic analytes), WCX (strongly basic analytes), AX (acidic analytes), and WAX (strongly acidic analytes). Generic protocols used for each sorbent type included:

• Sample pretreatment: dilution with aqueous acid or base.
• Load-Wash-Elute sequence without prior conditioning and equilibration.
• Comparison of 10 mg and 30 mg formats, measuring flow rates, clogging resistance, and processing times.
• Analyte recovery assessment using representative compounds (e.g., ketoprofen, metoprolol, prednisolone, ranitidine).

Main Results and Discussion

EVOLUTE EXPRESS plates delivered comparable analyte recoveries (typically 70–95%) and low variability relative to conventional SPE. Eliminating conditioning and equilibration reduced total processing time by up to one-third. Individual steps—loading and washing—were completed in under 15 seconds per well, with elution in 10–40 seconds depending on sorbent mass. Minimum elution volumes of 200 µL in 10 mg plates achieved full recovery, enabling direct injection and bypassing evaporation and reconstitution.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• Significant reduction in sample preparation time and solvent use.
• Enhanced throughput and compatibility with robotic automation.
• Consistent performance across diverse analyte classes and aqueous matrices.
• Minimized risk of sorbent bed drying and clogging, ensuring uniform flow.

Future Trends and Applications

Further improvements in mixed-mode polymer chemistries and plate hardware are expected to expand SPE selectivity and efficiency. Integration with automated liquid handlers and direct coupling to LC-MS systems will streamline workflows. Emerging analyte classes, such as peptides and polar metabolites, may be addressed through novel sorbent designs and tailored extraction protocols.

Conclusion

The EVOLUTE EXPRESS 96-well SPE plates represent a major advancement in high-throughput SPE, enabling a simplified Load-Wash-Elute workflow without conditioning or equilibration. Laboratories benefit from faster processing, reduced solvent consumption, and reliable analyte recovery, making these plates well suited for automated, large-scale analyses.

References

Biotage. EVOLUTE® EXPRESS 96-Well SPE Plates Technical Note. 2012.