October 22, 2018

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Most commercial UHPLC-UV instruments come equipped with fast sampling, high resolution diode array detectors (DADs). These instruments generate data-rich spectral information that goes underutilized, as the instrument vendors do not provide control options to perform deconvolution of spectral patterns, a capability that is routinely available for non-chromatographic formats, e.g., IR chemical probes.

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UV spectral deconvolution would provide clear benefits for chromatography, as it could be used to improve the quantitative accuracy of peak integration for analytes such as small molecule, oligonucleotide, peptide and protein drug compounds and closely related impurities that cannot be separated chromatographically in many cases. This capability would also speed up chromatographic separations at both analytical and preparative scales, since temporal resolution would be less critical in many cases. UV spectral deconvolution is available from one of the major UHPLC instrument vendors, but the implementation is limited. Because UHPLC-DAD is ubiquitous across all pharmaceutical research and quality control space, spanning all drug modalities, “unlocking” the power of these DADs is of high interest.

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Download the Request for Information and submit your response.

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RFI ISSUED OCTOBER 22, 2018

RESPONSES DUE DECEMBER 3, 2018

QUESTIONS RECEIVED

Could you please give us a bit more explanation on licensing requirements for the commercialized product? We particularly would like to understand what “available industry standard support” means.

“Available industry standard support” means the software should include traditional support from the provider such as bug fixes, patches, technical support, documentation, etc. (i.e., the type of support you would expect in purchasing and licensing software from a vendor).

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Does “avoid photoreactivity between flow cell and protein analytes” means the use of a filter or something which absorb low wavelength light (i.e. 220 nm or lower)?

There is a concern that high intensity UV light can exacerbate protein coating of the flow cell resulting in a decrease in sensitivity. We request that the flow cell should be compatible with biomolecular analytes.  A low UV filter is one possible way to mitigate the problem.

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Does the size have to include the solvent bottles?

No, bottles can sit external to the specified footprint, preferred in a vertical stacked orientation. However, there should an optional stand so it is not clunky and there is space efficient storage of mobile phases.

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