Innovation enhances multiomics workflow, eliminates sample preparation

A patent-pending innovation from Purdue University streamlines multiomics workflows by eliminating the need for sample preparation, a time-consuming and costly step. The Surface Touch Extraction Imaging (STEi) method, developed by researchers at the Bindley Bioscience Center, enables spatial analysis of complex samples using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) without the need for cutting, grinding or destroying the specimen.

STEi's automated, pressure-controlled probe extracts chemicals from irregular surfaces, such as biological tissues or food products, in a few seconds and creates spatial heat maps showing the concentration of various molecules. This allows scientists to quickly analyze samples and resample them over time, preserving spatial context while preserving the original tissue or product.

The technology has wide-ranging applications in food safety, toxicology, and drug development. For food scientists, STEi can detect contaminants on food surfaces and packaging, monitor food quality, and profile lipids in different cattle breeds. In toxicology, it can map the metabolic impact of drugs and chemicals on various tissues, showing tissue-specific accumulation patterns.

The STEi method offers a faster, more efficient alternative to traditional sample preparation methods, requiring minimal expertise and enabling automated, minimally destructive spatial sampling. Researchers are currently evaluating the recovery of lipids and proteins using different probe configurations to further optimize the technology's capabilities.