Thermo Scientific™ Orbitrap™ technology can help scientists in a variety of fields solve their toughest research questions in the lab and explore new dimensions.
Orbitrap technology has come a long way since its inception, and the analytical performance of Orbitrap-based instruments has enhanced many fields of study in life sciences, impacting society in considerable ways through drug development, disease understanding, and environmental analysis. Today, there are several models of Orbitraps that give labs a range of Orbitrap instruments to choose from at different price tiers with the right capabilities for their budget — making Orbitrap technology attainable and affordable for all labs. But to understand the true value of this technology to scientists in the lab today, let’s go back to the basics.
What is an Orbitrap?
The Orbitrap is a mass analyzer that consists of two outer electrodes and a central electrode, which enable it to act as both an analyzer and a detector. When ions enter the Orbitrap, they are captured through a process called electrodynamic squeezing and oscillate around the central electrode, in between the two outer electrodes.
Because different ions oscillate at different frequencies, they separate inside the Orbitrap analyzer, and scientists can then measure the various oscillation frequencies to determine the mass-to-charge (m/z) ratios of the ions. The result is a mass spectrum, which shows the m/z ratios of the ions against the intensity of the ions in the sample. Scientists use these results to measure the exact molecular weight of the sample, which can help them identify and quantify compounds, as well as determine the molecular and chemical properties of the sample.
Common applications of Orbitrap technology
Orbitrap mass spectrometers offer the highest levels of accuracy and precision for reliable screening performance, with quantitative capability to take on more testing requirements that mandate confident, reportable results. Orbitrap technology can be combined with liquid chromatography (LC-MS), gas chromatography (GC-MS), or ion chromatography (IC-MS) to enhance separation of the compounds, it’s typically the technology of choice for scientists who work with complex samples, such as biopharmaceutical scientists, translational researchers and forensic toxicologists, as well as environmental and food safety analysists.
But what about my Q-TOF?
Every day there are scientific discoveries, both big and small. New compounds are unearthed, insights become clearer, and questions are answered that lead scientists to solve tomorrow’s problems, today. Regulatory agencies around the world are imposing stricter limits on environmental safety and other public health concerns, which means that technology needs to advance to keep up with regulatory demands. Once the standard, Q-TOF mass spectrometers are less able to keep up with the demand for small-molecule analysis for environmental, food safety, clinical research, forensic toxicology, proteomics or metabolomics, and it’s important that labs choose equipment that will offer the best return on investment. The Orbitrap mass spectrometer is an innovative solution for modern labs, providing more value as the analyzer and detector. This means that labs may afford to buy fewer instruments while gaining more analytical power with one Orbitrap instrument that supports a wide diversity of application areas.
Choosing the Orbitrap that’s best for you
There is an extensive portfolio of Orbitrap mass analyzers, and it can be difficult to choose which one is best for your lab or for your particular application and your budget. The key benefits to all users of Orbitrap mass spectrometers are sensitivity, resolution, and mass accuracy, but your choice will depend on your experimental design and goals. There are several categories of Orbitrap mass spectrometers at different price points, and the below breakdown can guide you in choosing the equipment that’s the best propeller for your scientific discovery.
- For next-generation labs that are challenged by the need for more efficient screening, identification, confirmation and quantitation, Thermo Scientific™ Orbitrap Exploris™ mass spectrometers provide consistently accurate data, operational simplicity, and for a much smaller footprint on the bench. This MS is a workhorse for –omics labs, environmental and food safety testing, biopharma QC, clinical and translational research, and forensic toxicology.
- Discovering, profiling and quantifying small and large molecules requires experimental throughput, versatility and ease of use. The Thermo Scientific™ Orbitrap™ Tribrid™ mass spectrometers enable high throughput analysis of challenging samples, and this technology has range—offering scientists in metabolomics, lipidomics, drug development, extractables and leachables, industrial environmental, multi-omics, Tandem Mass Tag™ (TMT™), and proteomics the ability to keep up with the speed of science, and regulations.
- Scientists require tools that offer faster throughput, deeper coverage and higher sensitivity with accurate and precise quantitation to drive new discoveries. The Thermo Scientific™ Orbitrap™ Astral™ mass spectrometer combines high dynamic range and speed to allow researchers to analyze more samples in a shorter amount of time at a greater depth of coverage than ever before. Overcome existing challenges with this novel technology to dig deeper into more samples and rethink what is possible.
Making new discoveries demands highly efficient scientific instruments, while Thermo Fisher Scientific has a range of Orbitrap instruments at different price tiers, there’s also resources to support scientific grant writing to help labs purchase the equipment that will allow for the most innovation, and financing options with a technology refresh program to maintain your leading edge.
Orbitrap is beneficial for every lab
The benefits of Orbitrap technology are abundant, and the technology can help scientists do their work more accurately and efficiently. It’s reliable when labs need it most, making it a trusted partner when you and your fellow researchers are challenged by tight timelines and discovering the unknown. It’s your flashlight in the abyss, guiding you to answer science’s toughest questions. It’s a tool for finding solutions to the pain points that come with life sciences research, and it can confidently push your lab forward toward breakthroughs, higher productivity, and making the world a healthier, cleaner and safer place. And Orbitrap mass spectrometers really are for everyone, and every lab, offering a leading return on investment with impressive performance and unmatched value. Go ahead, pick your first choice.