Biotage Extrahera

Importance of the Topic

The Biotage Extrahera™ system addresses a critical need in modern analytical chemistry for high-throughput, reproducible and automated sample preparation. By replacing time-consuming manual workflows with a standardized platform, laboratories can improve data consistency, reduce solvent consumption and free technical staff for higher-value tasks.

Objectives and Study Overview

This brochure presents the design, features and performance of the Extrahera automated sample preparation platform. It aims to demonstrate how the system handles solid-phase extraction (SPE), supported liquid extraction (SLE), protein and phospholipid removal (PLD), and protein precipitation (PPT) across columns and well-plate formats, while offering user-friendly software, compact footprint and cost-saving operation.

Methodology and Instrumentation

The Extrahera system integrates the following key elements:

• Positive-pressure unit (0–5 bar) for controlled flow through SPE and SLE media.
• Five solvent pumps with external and manual reservoir feeds, supporting up to 1000 µL aliquots per pipetting action.
• Disposable 1000 µL tips and two tip racks enabling intelligent tip reuse and low-volume handling.
• Interchangeable racks for 96-, 48- and 24-well plates, plus 1 mL to 6 mL SPE column configurations.
• Built-in exhaust fan and enclosed processing area for solvent-volatile workflows.
• Intuitive touchscreen interface guiding users through pretreatment, load and elution steps, with method saving and PDF report generation.

Main Results and Discussion

Performance evaluations highlight:

• Precision and accuracy in pipetting across volumes from 50 µL to 1000 µL (CV ≤ 1.0%, accuracy ±1–2%).
• Throughput capability: full 96-well SPE plate processed in ~30 minutes, including all conditioning, loading, washing and elution steps.
• Flexible solvent handling of low-surface-tension solvents (e.g., dichloromethane, chloroform, ethers) with tuneable pipetting parameters.
• Seamless switch between plate and column formats in minutes via simple pressure head change and software adjustment.
• Reduced cross-contamination and consistent sample-to-sample results through positive-pressure control and vacuum-assisted waste removal.

Benefits and Practical Applications

The Extrahera platform delivers:

• Time savings by automating repetitive SPE, SLE, PLD and PPT protocols.
• Solvent and consumables reduction through optimized flow control and tip reuse.
• Laboratory space efficiency with a compact footprint (610 × 510 × 730 mm).
• Broad applicability across pharmaceuticals, clinical testing, forensics, food and beverage, environmental analysis, CROs and academic research.

Future Trends and Possibilities

Looking ahead, automated sample preparation systems will increasingly incorporate:

• Expanded method libraries and cloud-based data integration for real-time quality monitoring.
• Adaptive robotics for unattended reagent replenishment and waste management.
• Advanced analytics pairing sample prep data with downstream LC-MS/MS performance to further optimize throughput.

Conclusion

The Biotage Extrahera system represents a versatile, robust and user-friendly solution for automated sample preparation in high-throughput analytical settings. Its positive-pressure architecture, flexible format handling and software simplicity position it as a key enabler for laboratories seeking to boost productivity, data integrity and cost efficiency.

Instrumentation

The core instrument comprises:

• Extrahera sample processor with positive-pressure unit and integrated exhaust.
• Capacitive 12” touchscreen for method setup and monitoring.
• Five solvent pumps, dual-deck plate and tip carousel, and a vacuum interface for waste removal.