CRO & CDMO SERVICES

Bioanalysis & Assay DevelopmentMedicinal Chemistry & Structural BiologyAnalytical ChemistryChemical Synthesis
Overview
Literature Library

Contact Us

Sample Type:

View Our Privacy Statement for details on how we use and protect your data. In addition, this site is protected by hCaptcha and its Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Analytical Chemistry

With 40+ years of combined experience in mass spectrometry, Cayman scientists are available to support your biomarker and drug development studies. Equipped with state-of-the-art instrumentation, we are continuously expanding our LC-MS/MS capabilities for the detection and quantification of drugs, metabolites, and biomarkers in biological samples and utilize rigorous and modern scientific methods to provide our customers with the highest quality data. We will partner with you to understand your unique needs and deliver results that will move your drug discovery efforts forward. Our team of experts can help develop fit-for-purpose methods for discovery, pharmacokinetics, and formulation applications. We offer end-to-end services from biomarker discovery and basic R&D services to GMP API manufacturing and qualification and are focused on meeting client deadlines.

Applications

Cayman’s mass spectrometry-based analytical services can be used for:

  • Analytical Testing:
    • Method development and validation
    • Compound characterization (purity, identity), properties
    • Reverse engineering support
  • Targeted MS Assays:
    • Sample types: drug products, cosmetics, biological samples, environmental samples
    • Applications: formulation and dosing, environmental contaminants, cosmetics and nutraceuticals, active ingredients in natural products
  • Biomarker Discovery:
    • Lipidomics, proteomics, and targeted disease pathway studies
    • MS-based enzyme activity assays
  • Drug Discovery and Development Services:
    • Drug property testing: pKa, logP/logD, solubility, chemical stability, permeability
    • Drug metabolism and stability: microsome stability, plasma protein binding and stability, P450 Inhibition, tissue distribution
    • Pharmacokinetics

Method Development(2-8 weeks)

Method Development and Optimization

Select Instrumentation

Determine Linearity

Maximize Precision and Accuracy

Sample Analysis(2-3 weeks)

Sample Receipt and Preparation
LC-MS/MS
Data Analysis and Reporting
N_Samples8ACUlast (h*ng/ml)5,183.93
Dose (mg/kg)10Half Life (h)3.64
Tmax (h)0.25Volume of Distribution (ml/kg)9,866.09
Cmax (ng/ml)3,933.35Clearance (ml/h/kg)1,878.14

Method Development

Turnaround time: Project-dependent, but typically 2-8 weeks

Method development is intended to optimize the analytical method to the level needed for the analysis. Our experts will work with you to develop methods that will meet the needs of the analysis, whether you require rapid turnaround or the highest level of accuracy and quality control. We can establish and verify methods from the literature, transfer methods from other established labs, or build methods to suit your specific needs. Parameters optimized in this phase include:

  • Instrumentation (GC versus LC, targeted LC-MS/MS versus high-resolution LC-MS)
  • Linear range of the method
  • Extraction method (dilute-and-shoot, liquid-liquid extraction, solid-phase extraction (SPE)) and optimization of recovery
  • Accuracy and precision (spiked standards)
  • Minimized matrix interference
  • Throughput

Cayman offers three levels of method development to meet your project’s specific needs and objectives:

LEVEL 1

Basic

LEVEL 2

Intermediate

LEVEL 3

Full Method Validation
Basic FeaturesFor applications requiring rapid throughput, where relative differences between analytes and/or change in analyte quantity is more important than absolute quantitative accuracy.Provides a balance between speed and accuracy. Additional method development steps are added to ensure accurate quantitation; however, some exhaustive validation steps are eliminated to maintain faster turnaround compared with full validation.This top level of method validation and sample analysis includes a comprehensive set of experiments to fully document the performance of the assay. It includes sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, precision, linear range, detection, and quantitation limits.
Method DevelopmentBasic high-throughput UPLC-MS/MS with minor modificationsAnalyte-specific method developmentFull method development following industry standard guidelines
Common ApplicationsEarly-phase drug discovery studies (e.g., rapid PK profiling, drug property screening)Standard quantitative analyses (e.g., drug release studies, formulations, later-phase drug ADME studies)Preclinical studies, late-phase method development, and validation
Cost$$$$$$
NOTE: All methods are developed for research use only and are not intended to be used to diagnose or treat any disease or illness.

LC-MS/MS Instrumentation

Tandem MS – targeted analytes, high sensitivity/specificity

Waters® Xevo® TQD

Waters® Xevo® TQ-S micro

Sciex Triple Quad™ 6500+

Sciex QTRAP® 6500+

High-Resolution MS – ‘omics’, profiling, metabolite identification

Thermo Scientific™ Q Exactive™ Plus

Internal Standards

Internal standards are critical for normalization and accurate quantitation in mass spectrometry due to sample-to-sample biological matrix variability. Cayman’s catalog of biochemicals includes a wide variety of isotopically labeled standards, including deuterium-, 13C-, and/or 15N-labeled compounds, as well asMaxSpec® standards, which are quantitative analytical standards prepared specifically for mass spectrometry and related applications where quantitative reproducibility is required. Cayman also offers custom chemical synthesis services, including isotopic labeling.

Sample Analysis

Turnaround time: Sample number- and analysis-dependent, but typically 2-3 weeks

Our scientists will process, extract, and analyze your samples according to the protocols developed during the Method Development phase. The contents of your analysis report will vary based on the specific application and level of quantitation used.

Requirements and Pricing

Requirements and pricing vary based on the method development level, number of analytes, and sample analysis/data analysis requested. Straightforward “per sample” pricing is typically determined once methods are established, allowing for streamlining of the budgeting and ordering process. You can request more information, including project-specific pricing, by submitting the “Contact Us” form.

Related Services

View the Poster

Read the Technical Brief

Cayman Collaborations & Co-Authored Publications