Thermo Fisher Scientific and Phytronix Technologies partner on laser diode thermal desorption technology

November 14, 2007, San Jose, CA and Quebec, QC, Canada--Thermo Fisher Scientific announced a strategic partnership with Phytronix Technologies for the use of laser diode thermal desorption (LDTD) technology for applications in sample analysis for both quantitative and qualitative applications in high-throughput drug discovery, drug development, food safety, and environmental applications.

This unique technology, consisting of a semi-conductor based laser diode, allows scientists to rapidly analyze compounds. The LDTD technology increases the speed of analysis of compounds by 20 to 100 times compared to established techniques based on liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Pharmacokinetic studies using LDTD technology can be performed in less than 10 minutes, and enzyme inhibition assays in 18 minutes—compared to 10 hours presently required with LC-MS
techniques.

The LDTD ion source utilizes an infrared laser diode to thermally desorb the dried sample. Applications include the analysis of sulfonamide residues in milk, analysis of explosives such as HMX, RDX, and TNT, and analysis of fatty acids in both positive and negative ion mode. One unique advantage of this technology is that it can be used in mobile units for real-time, on-location environmental testing as seen in the operation of an LDTD-based TSQ Quantum for air quality testing by the Québec Environmental Agency.

For more information, visit www.phytronix.com.