SunCollect System – OVERVIEW

Spotting Robot for MALDI-TOF Microbial Identification

The SunCollect Contact Free (CF) spotter is designed for an automated fast and accurate sample preparation for microbial identification by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. The spotter can process up to two MALDI targets simultaneously, requiring only one second per sample spot. For higher throughput, the instrument has an automatic target drying function that provides a fast and efficient sample preparation. The instrument has two separate inputs for reagents. This ensures not only direct sample preparation with MALDI matrix, but also pretreatment with formic acid.

Contact Free Pipetting of MALDI Matrix and FA

The SunCollect CF spotter enables fast, efficient and reproducible sample preparation for your MALDI-TOF microbial identification system and relieves your laboratory staff from tedious and time-consuming pipetting. Due to the non-contact application of the solutions, there is no carryover of the samples and the costs for consumables such as pipette tips are eliminated.

Fast and Simple Sample Prep for MALDI-TOF MS

The operation of the CF spotter is simple and straightforward: Insert one or two MALDI targets into the device and select the method of preparation: "Matrix Only" or "Formic acid + Matrix". With just two more clicks, you determine which samples are to be spotted. Every further preparation step including drying of the spots is then performed automatically by the spotter.

Benefit from our high-purity HCCA (α-cyano-4- hydroxycinnamic acid) MALDI matrix, which we supply with our spotter as consumables. Due to the large volume of the convenient 10 mL glass vials, the matrix solution does not need to be constantly renewed and thanks to the user-friendly prices, the investment in the instrument p  ays for itself in a very short time.

Groundbreaking tissue coverage

The SunCollect system uses an optimized spray generator to produce extremely small matrix droplet sizes. It ‘atomizes’ the matrix solution with its patented spray nozzle using compressed air or nitrogen gas. SunCollect enables the user to produce by far the finest matrix crystals worldwide in combination with a very high homogeneity. For α-Cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (CHCA), crystal sizes of 100 – 200 nm can be achieved

Furthermore, the SunCollect System is extremely fast: To cover a standard ITO glass slide (75 × 25 mm) it takes about 50 seconds per layer. The patented multi-layer-technique allows additionally a very high efficiency for analyte extraction while keeping the spatial resolution. Besides this special sample preparation technique SunCollect sprays matrix or expensive enzyme solutions extremely economical. Less than 200 µL enzyme solution is needed for a standard microscope or ITO glass slide for absolutely homogeneous 10 layers. This procedure is crucial for a successful sample preparation for MALDI MS.

Patented spray procedure SunChrom’s newly patented spray procedure starts with a very low flow rate for matrix/solvent delivery and increases the flow rate within the first three layers. By this method the surface of the glass becomes porous, similar like tissue surface. It prevents the delocalization of analytes out of the tissue to the glass surface (no wash-out).

MALDI-Spotter SunCollect

The sample preparation is often the limiting factor for a successful MALDI analysis and can be time consuming in some cases. SunCollect is engineered for high precision in combination with a very fast movement. The spotting needle switches from spot to spot in less than a second while depositing very small and precise spots of <10 nL volume at the same time.

MALDI-Spotting

Some targets employ a highly polished plate and therefore possess a “hydrophobic” surface. In this situation, the distribution of small droplets can be difficult to control when the distance between the probe and target is very small.
However, the superb precision of the SunCollect system ensures that there is no contamination between neighboring spots, even when difficult targets are employed.

Several studies have clearly shown that the shape of the drop is optimized when:

• The needle does not touch the surface
• The droplets can be formed in a symmetrical shape by the tip of the probe
• Small droplets are deposited by the probe onto the plate
• Past adjustments to the system are kept in memory so that similar droplets can be treated in a common manner
• Sufficient time is provided for the deposition of the sample so that the liquid film can drain from the probe tip and minimized carryover.
• Our SunCollect system meets all these demands by its well-engineered mechanics and the patented fused silica spotting needle.

An additional benefit is the extremely fast changeover from spot to spot (less than 1 sec) that allows fractionation even at high flow rates (e.g. with Micro-HPLC). As an example, the spots in the picture on the left were collected with a fraction time of 1 sec. The probe needle is made of 360 µm OD quartz to ensure very small and precise spots.

This leads to superb sample deposition with precise spot size and position. Spot volumes can be as low as 1 nL.

Also the use of our high precision matrix dosing pump enhances the MS results in comparison to manual matrix pipetting.

SunCollect Fraction Collector

Collection of sample on two targets or MTP allows the simultaneous deposition of the sample on both MALDI plates and micro titer plates, especially when high flow rates are employed.

A second application of the collection of fractions in two distinct devices leads to the use of 2-dimensional Micro- or Nano-HPLC. In this case, commonly most of the sample from ion exchange separation (1st dimension) is saved in a micro titer plate and used for second orthogonal separation (e.g. reversed phase).

Only a small amount of the sample is spotted on a MALDI target for a preliminary investigation of the 1st dimension

Continuous Fractionation

The collection of the eluate in drops or spots can be very often disadvantageous because of possible remixing of compounds separated nicely on the column, but collected in a single spot. In comparison to online HPLC-ESI/API-MS technique MALDI is an offline approach with a discontinuous interface between HPLC and MS.

In order to overcome this issue, SunChrom offers special developed targets for ABI and Bruker MALDI MS, where the sample needle remains on the target surface and moves continuously along the surface, depositing eluent mixed with matrix in meandering lines (see picture on the left). An air blower dries these lines rapidly without remixing of compounds due to diffusion.

This target has a special surface without any coating to ensure the creation of a continuous line without interruption at any eluent composition from 100 % water up to 100 % acetonitrile.

If desired, more than one separation can be placed on a single target. After drying and inserting the target into the MALDI-MS, the laser beam of the mentioned ABI and Bruker MALDI can follow the lines in a continuous manner generating similar results to an online approach like HPLC-ESI-MS.