In-Hand at Pittcon 2009

FEBRUARY 2009 THE PEAK15 Science, Instrumentation, and Interaction Go Hand- In-Hand at Pittcon 2009

Thomas Ricci, Ricci Communications

Pittcon 2009 will celebrate its 60th anniversary of showcasing the most advanced instrumentation and technologies and presenting the latest advances in scientific research. Pittcon is always a unique experience and provides diverse opportunities for education and interaction with leading scientific innovators and thought leaders from academia, industry, and government from around the world. Conferees can a expect a week-long immersion into science in the form of technical presentations, workshops, short courses, and networking opportunities, along with a vibrant exposition of the latest instrumentation and laboratory equipment.

n atmosphere of excitement and Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy expectation will prevail when (Pittcon) is a Pennsylvania-based not-for- APittcon opens its doors to the scien- profit, educational corporation owned by tific community for the 60th time in the Spectroscopy Society of Pittsburgh Chicago, Illinois, March 8–13 — excite- (SSP) and the Society for Analytical ment at the prospect of a week-long immer- Chemists of Pittsburgh (SACP). Proceeds sion into science, opportunities to learn from Pittcon are used to fund science edu- from leaders in the field, and high expecta- cation outreach programs in the greater tions of seeing the most advanced labora- Pittsburgh area, in the host city, and tory instrumentation in use today. throughout the United States. Unlike most The Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical other conferences and exhibitions, Pittcon is 16 THE PEAK FEBRUARY 2009

Figure 1: The Pittcon Exposition floor. organized by an all-volunteer committee global impact on the advancement of and small office staff (1). science. Anticipating more than 20,000 attendees, Most recently, Dr. Roger Tsien, Univer- organizers of Pittcon 2009 look forward to sity of California, San Diego, delivered the presenting a comprehensive multidiscipli- plenary lecture at Pittcon 2006. Two years nary technical program to complement the later, he was awarded the 2008 Nobel Prize premier product exposition in the industry. in Chemistry for his discovery and develop- Here are just a few of the highlights of this ment of the green fluorescent protein year’s conference and exposition (Figure 1). (GFP). His discovery revolutionized the fields of cell biology and neurobiology by Is There a Nobel Laureate Waiting allowing scientists to peer inside living cells in the Wings? and observe the behavior of molecules in It is not unlikely that one of the many sci- real time (2). entists who are presenting their research At Pittcon 2004, lectures by 2002 Nobel during Pittcon will one day be recognized Laureates in Chemistry, Koichi Tanaka of with the Nobel Prize in their discipline. In Shimadzu and Kurt Wuthrich of the Swiss Pittcon’s 60-year history, there have been Federal Institute of Technology were a high- many Nobel Laureates who have partici- light of the technical program (3). Tanaka pated in the technical program and shared was recognized for developing a novel inventions and research that have made a method for mass spectrometry (MS) analy- 18 THE PEAK FEBRUARY 2009

At Pittcon 2003, Fenn gave what he referred to as an “archaeological expedition” of the history of electrospray ionization (ESI), the technology for which he shared the Nobel Prize. Since Fenn’s group developed the technique in the early 1980s, ESI has become an essential tool for the MS analysis of extremely large biomolecules (5). Among the other Nobel Laureates who have taken the podium at Pittcon over the years are: ● Ahmed H. Zewail, Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1999 ● Kai M. Siegbahn, Nobel Prize in Physics 1981 ● Rosalyn Yalow, Nobel Prize in Physiol- ogy or Medicine 1977 Figure 2: Dr. Chad Mirkin, 2009 Pittsburgh ● Analytical Chemistry Award. Gerhard Herzberg, Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1971 ses of biological macromolecules. Wuthrich ● Charles H. Townes, Pittcon plenary was recognized for his development of speaker and Nobel Prize in Physics 1964 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy ● Archer John Porter Martin, Nobel Prize for determining the three-dimensional in Chemistry 1952 structure of biological macromolecules in solution. The 2002 Nobel Prize in Chem- Scientific Leaders to be istry was also shared by John B. Fenn of Vir- Recognized for Their Recent ginia Commonwealth University, Rich- Achievements mond, for his work in the field of MS, If there are Nobel Laureates to emerge some specifically for the electrospray ionization time in the future, conferees might find technique often used to identify and analyze potential candidates in the Pittcon Awards biological macromolecules. Symposia, where the most significant scien- Paul Lauterbur, the 1985 Maurice Has- tific achievements are recognized annually. sler Award and 1987 Pittsburgh Spec- Many Nobel Laureates have received these troscopy Award Winner, shared the Nobel very awards in recognition of their contribu- Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2003 for tions. Here are some of the highlights in the his work, which made the development of Pittcon Awards program. magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) possible Dr. Chad Mirkin will be presented with (4). the Pittsburgh Analytical Chemistry Award. 20 THE PEAK FEBRUARY 2009

Ralph N. Adams Award. Dr. Cooks’ group focuses on MS, including fundamental phe- nomena, instrumentation, and analytical applications. At the awards presentation, Dr. Cooks will present his group’s most recent work in desorption electrospray ionization (DESI), which allows mass spectra to be obtained almost anywhere at ambient temperatures, from inert surfaces or directly from living tissues with no sample preparation. He envisions that this research will soon lead to the commercial development of a miniature mass spectrometer that would enable rapid tissue analyses in situ, during surgery (Figure 3). Dr. Ira W. Levin, National Institutes of Health, will be presented with the Pitts- Figure 3: Dr. R. Graham Cooks, 2009 Ralph N. Adams Award. burgh Spectroscopy Award. Dr. Levin’s work involves high-throughput spectro- Dr. Mirkin is the George B. Rathmann Pro- scopic imaging approaches to identify fessor of Chemistry at Northwestern Uni- molecular biomarkers. His laboratory has versity and Director of the International participated directly at the patient level in Institute for Nanotechnology. He is also the collaborations with cardiologists and trans- most-cited nanotechnologist in the world. plantation surgeons. In his award presenta- Mirkin is best known for the development tion, Dr. Levin will describe procedures in of nanoparticle-based biodetection schemes, which visible reflectance imaging tech- the invention of dip-pen nanolithography, niques are used to aid surgeons in perform- and contributions to supramolecular chem- ing laparoscopic procedures by allowing the istry. A total of 15 companies have been assessment of tissue oxygenation and vessel founded to commercialize technologies differentiation despite significant visual lim- developed at the Nanotechnology Institute. itations (Figure 4). Dr. Mirkin personally has founded several Other Pittcon awards to distinguished companies that have developed products scientists include: based upon technology developed in his lab- ● Dr. Nelson Torto, Rhodes University; oratory (Figure 2). The Analytical Chemistry Award for Dr. R. Graham Cooks, Henry B. Hass Young Investigators in Separation Sci- Distinguished Professor – Analytical Chem- ence. This award recognizes and encour- istry, Purdue University, will receive the ages outstanding contributions to the 22 THE PEAK FEBRUARY 2009

recognizes outstanding work in the field of chromatography. ● Dr. Gary M. Hieftje, Indiana University; The Maurice F. Hasler Award. This award recognizes notable achievements in spectroscopy that have significantly improved applications on a broad scale. ● Dr. Daniel T. Chiu, University of Wash- ington; The 2009 Pittsburgh Conference Achievement Award. This award recognizes significant contributions to the fields of analytical chemistry and applied spectroscopy in the 10 years following completion of the Ph.D. degree. ● Dr. Jerome J. Workman, Jr., Luminous Medical Inc.; The Williams Wright Figure 4: Dr. Ira W. Levin, 2009 Pittsburgh Award. The Coblentz Society presents Spectroscopy Award. this award to recognize the industrial spectroscopist who has made significant field of separation science by a young contributions to vibrational spectroscopy chemist or chemical engineer within 10 while working in industry. years of their highest degree. ● Dr. Martin Quack, Swiss Federal Insti- Plenary Lecture Focused on tute of Technology (ETH) Zürich; The Science and Technology Issues in Bomen-Michelson Award. The Coblenz Developing Countries Society presents this award annually in Dr. George M. Whitesides, the Woodford L recognition of contributions to the field and Ann A. Flowers University Professor at of molecular spectroscopy. Harvard University Department of Chem- ● Dr. Charles R. Martin, University of istry and Chemical Biology, will deliver this Florida; The Charles N. Reilley Award. year’s Plenary Lecture during the Sunday This award recognizes an active re- afternoon technical program. Dr. White- searcher who has made a major contri- sides’ presentation, “Paper Diagnostics- bution to the theory, instrumentation, or Using First World Science in Developing applications of electroanalysis. Economies,” will discuss solutions for using ● Dr. Frantisek Svec, E.O. Lawrence science and technology to service problems Berkeley National Laboratory; The in developing countries. The lecture will Chromatography Forum of the Delaware focus on two exciting new technologies: Valley Dal Nogare Award. This award microfluidic systems based upon patterned 24 THE PEAK FEBRUARY 2009 FEBRUARY 2009 THE PEAK25

ment, and industry, including many who have been recognized previously for their work with Pittcon achievement awards (Fig- ure 7). The program is broad in scope with emphasis in pharmaceutical and the life sciences. Major focus areas of the program will include: ● applied molecular spectroscopy ● bioanalytical chemistry ● biomedicine ● chemical imaging ● chemical separations ● environmental science and technology ● food analysis and regulatory affairs ● homeland security ● informatics Figure 5: Dr. George M. Whitesides, Figure 6: Dr. Leroy Hood, Pittcon 2008 Plenary Lecture. ● Pittcon 2009 Plenary Lecture. mass spectrometry ● microfluidics Premier Product Exposition ● laboratory automation paper and microanalytical systems using ● nanotechnology A highlight of the Conference for many, the ● informatics and analytical software magnetic levitation (Figures 5 and 6). ● pharmaceutical science Pittcon Exposition will showcase the most ● green chemistry solutions ● proteomics, genomics, glycomics, and recent developments in laboratory instru- ● contract laboratory services Biological and Physical Sciences metabolomics mentation and equipment and enable con- ● OEM parts and dealers Converge in the Technical ● separations science ferees to evaluate products and talk to the The Pittcon Exposition floor includes Program technical experts one-on-one. Exhibitors special interest areas — Life Sciences, New The Technical Program offers an exciting Short Course Program and will offer hands-on demonstrations in their Exhibitors, Informatics. and the Green Cor- view of the role science plays in addressing Workshops booths as well as in seminar rooms located ner, a new area dedicated to exhibitors who some of the most pressing global issues, In recent years, Pittcon’s Short Course pro- on the exposition floor. All of the largest will display environmentally-friendly chem- such as food quality and safety, the environ- gram has grown, as conferees take advantage instrumentation companies will be there, as istry solutions, resource conservation and ment, biological weapons detection, drug of educational opportunities to make their well as new start-up instrument companies pollution prevention techniques. discovery and novel delivery mechanisms, week even more productive. Pittcon 2009 and suppliers of supporting laboratory and even space exploration. With well over offers more than 100 courses and nearly 60 equipment, chemicals, and disposables. New Product Forums 2000 technical sessions, including invited topics. Courses range in length from half- The exposition features developers and Some of the latest developments in scientific symposia, contributed oral sessions, work- day, full-day, and two-day sessions. Also suppliers involved with: instrumentation and equipment can be seen shops, and posters, the technical program available are half-day and full-day intensive ● chromatography, MS, and spectroscopy in the New Product Forums, which will be offers a diverse educational experience. The workshops. ● laboratory equipment, chemicals, and held from Monday through Wednesday. A technical program includes more than 100 supplies few of the products to be presented include: invited speakers from academia, govern- ● customized solutions ● Centrifugal supercritical fluid 26 THE PEAK FEBRUARY 2009 27 FEBRUARY 2009 THE PEAK

ficult to imagine that conferees could pack Photon Correlation Spectroscopy (Dy- much more into their Pittcon week. But namic Light Scattering) — Probes for most attendees also view Pittcon as a valu- Protein Aggregation and Lipid Vesicle able, once-a-year opportunity to connect Dynamics with their colleagues, network with their ● Lab-on-a-Chip Is a Beautiful Thing — peers, or advance their global business inter- But Where Are the Chips-in-the-Lab? ests. The ongoing interaction is a highly val- ued component of the overall Pittcon Online Program experience. The full 2009 Pittcon program can be With the introduction of conferee net- found at www.pittcon.org as well as an working sessions at Pittcon 2007, conferees online Agenda Builder, a handy tool to find have more opportunities for scientific inter- programs and exhibitors of interest by pre- action. These 2-hour networking sessions senter, topic, and technology. are designed to give conferees the opportunity to share ideas, solve common problems, References and collaborate with their peers in informal (1) http://www.pittcon.org discussions on specific topics. A few of the (2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Y._Tsien Figure 7: Poster session. sessions organized for Pittcon 2009 include: (3)http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb5255/is_ ● Utilization of Newer LC and MS /ai_n29073420 chromatography (SFC) fraction collector techniques Technologies for Rapid Information (4) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Lauterbur and simultaneous sample concentration ● Fast, highly sensitive Fourier-transform Generation in Pharmaceutical (5)http://pubs.acs.org/cen/coverstory/8113/8113pit system infrared (FTIR)-based analyzer for CWA Development tcon.html Ⅲ ● Disposable bioreactor and TIC monitoring ● HPLC of Soluble and Membrane ● Man-portable gas chromatography ● Fast scan differential scanning Proteins ● For more information on (GC)–MS system for detection and calorimeters State of Supercritical Fluid this topic, please visit identification of semivolatile and volatile ● Fully configurable sample preparation Chromatography www.chromatographyonline.com organic compounds system for solid-phase extraction (SPE), ● Chemical Imaging ● Ultra inert capillary GC columns gel permeation chromatography (GPC) ● ICP-MS and Chromatography for ● Scalable modular high performance cleanup, and concentration Metals Speciation liquid chromatography (HPLC) system ● Automatic dynamic headspace for the ● LC–MS Users Forum ● High-resolution hybrid mass determination of volatile organic com- ● Capillary Electrophoresis Involving spectrometer with electron-capture pounds in different matrices Nanostructures dissociation (ECD) ● Chromatography software ● Outsourcing in the Pharmaceutical ● Elemental analyzer Industry ● Automated methyl-mercury analyzer Networking a Key Element of the ● High Throughput Analysis in the using GC and cold vapor atomic Pittcon Experience Pharmaceutical Field fluorescence spectrometry With so much to learn in the technical pro- ● Physical Characterization of Complex ● Particle size analyzers using microscopy gram and see in the exposition, it seems dif- Biopharmaceutical Products Using