Sample Preparation Method for Quantitative Analysis of Samples Containing Amino Acids

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This invention provides a specially designed sample preparation method for quantitatively analyzing samples that contain amino acids, especially in solid or complex biological matrices (such as plant, animal, or microbial tissues). The process involves grinding and homogenizing samples under cooled conditions (preferably using liquid nitrogen), extracting amino acids with a tailored acidic-organic solvent, separating them from solids, transferring them to an organic phase, and thorough drying before analysis. The key innovation is the stringent cooling at multiple steps to preserve amino acid integrity, minimize degradation, and prevent unwanted side reactions, thereby allowing accurate quantitative and qualitative analysis of amino acids by techniques such as GC-MS or HPLC.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Medical diagnostics to measure amino acid profiles in tissues or biological fluids.
• Nutritional analysis of food and animal feed for amino acid content.
• Plant physiology research to monitor amino acid variations in different plant tissues or in response to changing conditions.
• Biochemical research on metabolism in microorganisms, tissues, or cells.
• Quality control in pharmaceutical or biotechnology industries where amino acid composition must be verified.
• Environmental monitoring involving biological samples with amino acids.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Enables precise quantitative analysis of amino acids even in solid or complex biological samples, not just liquids.
• Prevents degradation and chemical alteration of amino acids during sample preparation thanks to strict cooling protocols.
• Minimizes sample loss and procedural variability, increasing reproducibility and reliability of results.
• Compatible with widely-used analytical techniques like GC-MS, HPLC, and LC-MS for downstream analysis.
• Expands the scope of sample types (including tough biological matrices), opening up new markets and research applications.
• Improves safety for analytical equipment (e.g., GC columns) by ensuring samples are properly dried and free of water, which can otherwise cause damage.

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Patent Abstract

The invention relates to a sample preparation method for quantitative analysis of samples containing amino acids, comprising the following steps: a) comminution and homogenisation of the sample, b) extraction of amino acids, c) separation of the liquid extraction phase containing the amino acids from possible remaining solids, insofar as there are solids remaining, d) separation of the amino acids from the extraction medium, e) transfer of the amino acids to an organic phase and f) drying the organic phase, with, at least in steps a), b) and c), cooling being carried out. The cooling is preferably carried out using liquid nitrogen as refrigerant.