Automation of mass spectrometric detection of analytes and related workflows: A review

Metabolomics-Guided Elucidation of Plant Abiotic Stress Responses in the 4IR Era: An Overview

“…Robotic systems have thus been developed in addition to automated sample preparation methods for rapid throughput and reproducibility in large scale metabolomic analysis ( Figure 1 ). These robots can be incorporated into existing automated systems to function as a transport system (i.e., sample handling) or to perform manipulation (i.e., sample preparation) tasks [ 77 , 78 ]. Depending on the type of task(s) performed, a single-arm or dual-arm robot is used.…”

“…In addition, automation has also reduced the risk of variability or errors related to manual operations. However, the operation of these analytical platforms is dependent on highly skilled and experienced analysts that can identify and avoid problems prior to analysis to increase the chance of producing highly reliable and robust data [ 78 , 82 ].…”

“…Analytical intelligence is a concept for analytical instruments and it consists of systems and software that resemble an experienced analyst by automatically identifying good or bad conditions, displaying the results, providing feedback to the user, and solving common problems faced by an experienced analyst. For instance, column equilibration to avoid column damage, constantly monitoring the level and consumption of the mobile phase, management of column performance, manually purging the flow channels and manually picking and integrating peaks (i.e., peak detection and peak integration) are some examples of problems that challenge analyst [ 78 , 83 , 84 ]. Although different forms of ‘analytical intelligence’ have been part of advancements in analytical systems, the concept of ‘analytical intelligence’ has been recently articulated by Shimadzu [ 83 ].…”

“…Automated mass spectrometry (MS) systems are equipped with autosamplers and in some cases cartesian xyz robotics systems (i.e., robotics systems designed to permit the arms with at least three degrees of freedom) for sample preparation and injection into LC- and gas chromatography (GC)-MS instruments, thus enabling higher throughput, multiple and remote sample data acquisition [ 51 , 78 ]. GC-MS autosamplers are preferred over the commonly used manual injection procedure, as they provide accurate, precise, and rapid sample aliquoting for large quantities of samples with frequent wash cycles, which reduce sample carryover, defined by the user.…”

“…GC-MS autosamplers are preferred over the commonly used manual injection procedure, as they provide accurate, precise, and rapid sample aliquoting for large quantities of samples with frequent wash cycles, which reduce sample carryover, defined by the user. Autosamplers thus aid in enhanced statistical analysis and, therefore, reliable biological interpretations by enabling the acquisition and analysis of multiple biological replicates, which increases the sample size for powerful statistical analysis [ 78 , 85 ]. Despite the advances of automated MS systems for enhancing reliable biological interpretations, these systems are, however, limited by their resolving power for isomers.…”