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Lipidomics & Lipid Analysis

The experts at Cayman offer untargeted lipidomics and targeted lipid analysis services to analyze lipid profiles in biological samples. With state-of-the-art facilities and decades of collective expertise in lipid synthesis, purification, and characterization, we can support projects ranging in scope from analyzing a single lipid mediator or small group of lipid biomarkers to characterizing broad changes in metabolism and signaling involving multiple lipid categories. We use standards from our catalog of high-quality lipids and well-established, optimized methods for sample preparation, lipid extraction, LC-MS/MS, and data analysis to provide accurate results with a quick turnaround time.

Whether you are planning a small pilot study or require large-scale analysis, our scientists are here to help make your research possible. Our lipid analysis has been published in high-impact journals including Nature, Cancer Cell, and more.

Untargeted
Lipidomics
Targeted
Lipid Analysis
Purpose
Applications
Example

Identify changes in lipid levels across multiple classes

Quantify changes in the levels of specific lipids

  • Generate new hypotheses
  • Identify putative biomarkers
  • Observe broad metabolic changes
  • Inform targeted profiling strategies
  • Test a current hypothesis
  • Verify or validate biomarkers
  • Investigate specific lipid biochemical pathways
  • Detect and quantify lipid mediators

Scientific Poster:
Robust and Versatile Workflow for Routine Lipidomics Analysis

Scientific Poster:
Immunoaffinity Capture Mass Spectrometry for Endogenous Lipid Biomarker Analysis

Untargeted (Discovery) Lipidomics

Untargeted lipidomics provides a semiquantitative overview of many of the more abundant molecular species across most lipid categories, including fatty acyls, glycerolipids, glycerophospholipids, sphingolipids, sterol lipids, and prenol lipids.

Method

Lipid extracts are analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS), and data-dependent tandem mass spectrometry (ddMS/MS) to create a detailed lipid profile and identify differences in the levels of lipids between samples.

View Additional Information (PDF)

Data Analysis & Reporting

Identification and relative quantitation of lipid species is facilitated by the use of Lipostar software and the LIPID MAPS® Structure Database (LMSD). Basic data analysis includes identification of lipids, reporting of normalized peak responses in all samples, and data overview visualization. Additional data interpretation, statistical analysis, and comparative graphs are available as supplemental services.

Representative coverage of lipid groups by untargeted lipidomics analysis of a mammalian sample. The numbers indicate how many molecular species were identified in each lipid category.

Targeted Lipid Analysis

Targeted lipid analysis provides semiquantitative or quantitative analysis of specific molecular species, typically within a class or subclass of lipids.

Our Targeted Lipid Panels

We have a variety of established targeted lipid panels available, as well as options for customization and method development. Additional panels may be available upon request. We also offer analysis of smaller groups of lipids or single lipid analytes.

Available Panels

Click below to download individual panel details (PDF)

Method

Lipid extracts are typically analyzed using HPLC and multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) of a predetermined list of analytes. This approach provides sensitive and specific detection of lipids and is especially useful for quantifying analytes present at low levels in samples, such as bioactive lipid mediators (e.g., prostaglandins, leukotrienes, or endocannabinoids). Long-chain fatty acids are analyzed using GC-MS or GC-FID.

Data Analysis & Reporting

Basic data analysis includes absolute or relative quantitation of lipids, as well as representative data visualization. Additional data interpretation and statistical analysis are available as supplemental services.

Heat map showing the relative levels of oxylipins in murine tissue.

Instrumentation

Cayman’s lipid analysis laboratories are equipped with state-of-the-art ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) systems coupled to triple-quadrupole or Orbitrap mass spectrometers, as well as advanced analysis software.

Sample Types & Requirements

We have experience analyzing lipids in a wide range of tissue types, biological fluids, and both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Our scientists will work with you to determine the most suitable type of lipid analysis, the amount of sample required, and best practices for collection, handling, storage, and shipping of samples.

Internal & Calibration Standards

We use rigorously validated internal and calibration standards from our catalog of high-quality lipids to control for variability in recovery of analytes and enable accurate identification and quantitation. We also offer custom synthesis of unlabeled or isotopically labeled analytical standards.

Pricing

We offer tiered pricing for projects analyzing more than 10 samples. You can request more information, including project-specific pricing, by submitting the “Contact Us” form.

Related Services

Literature

Meet our Scientists

Read the Application Notes

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Cayman Collaborations & Co-Authored Publications

Cockayne, L., Conroy, M., Baloglu, C., et al. Lipid Maps: Powering discovery in lipidomics. Sci. Signal. 19(936), (2026).

Masud, S.N., Srivastava, A., Mero, P., et al. Genetic suppression features ABHD18 as a Barth syndrome therapeutic target. Nature 645(8082), 1029-1038 (2025).

Schebb, N.H., Kampschulte, N., Hagn, G., et al. Technical recommendations for analyzing oxylipins by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Sci. Signal 18(887), eadw1245 (2025).

Zbylicki, B.R., Cochran, S., Weiss, D.S., et al. Identification of two glycosyltransferases required for synthesis of membrane glycolipids in Clostridioides difficile. mBio 16(3), e0351224 (2025).

Khan, I., Minto, R.E., Kelley-Patteson, C., et al. Biofilm-derived oxylipin 10-HOME-mediated immune response in women with breast implants. J. Clin. Invest. 134(3), e165644 (2023).

Liao, P., Wang, W., Wang, W., et al. CD8+ T cells and fatty acids orchestrate tumor ferroptosis and immunity via ACSL4. Cancer Cell 40(4), 365-378 (2022).

Kaur, G., Yogeswaran, S., Muthumalage, T., et al. Persistently increased systemic ACE2 activity is associated with an increased inflammatory response in smokers with COVID-19. Front. Physiol. 12, 653045 (2021).

Zou, Y., Li, H., Graham, E.T., et al. Cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase contributes to phospholipid peroxidation in ferroptosis. Nat. Chem. Biol. 16(3), 302-309 (2020).

Wang, W., Green, M., Choi, J.E., et al. CD8+ T cells regulate tumour ferroptosis during cancer immunotherapy. Nature 569(7755), 270-274 (2019).

Kornilov, A., Kennedy, P.D., Aldrovandi, M., et al. Revising the structure of a new eicosanoid from human platelets to 8,9-11,12-diepoxy-13-hydroxy-eicosadienoic acid. The Journal of Biological Chemisty 294(23), 9225-9238 (2019).

Gijón, M.A., Kennedy, P.D., and Soulika, A.M. Immunoaffinity extraction and bioactive lipid profiling. Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News 38(16), (2018).