Best Scientific Paper in the Field of Chemical Analysis: Alexander Winckelmann, Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM)
High-Resolution Atomic Absorption Spectrometry Combined With Machine Learning Data Processing for Isotope Amount Ratio Analysis of Lithium
In its justification of its decision, the jury stated:
The potential of machine learning algorithms up to artificial intelligence is becoming apparent in more and more areas and topics. The possibilities opened up by adding such technologies are currently only in their infancy but often already impressive. The work of Alexander Winkelmann and colleagues here excitingly shows how machine learning algorithms can increase the validity of measurement results to such an extent, that the next higher class of devices is partially matched in performance.
The team investigated the extent to which AAS technology from AJ (HR-CS-AAS) is able to sufficiently analyze the distribution of lithium isotopes using gradient boosting algorithms (XGBoost).
As a reference, the established ICP-MS method was used as the current standard analysis method for this purpose. The results proved to be comparable and sufficient to detect the isotopic distribution of Li in the samples using AAS, instead of the much more laborious analysis using ICP-MS.
Best Scientific Paper in the Field of Molecular Biology: Dr. Michael A. Crone, London Biofoundry, Imperial College Translation & Innovation Hub
A role for Biofoundries in rapid development and validation of automated SARS-CoV-2 clinical diagnostics
In its justification of its decision, the jury stated:
The Corona pandemic challenged society. Laboratory capacities for patient samples also reached their limits. How they can be increased in the short term and without compromising the accuracy of the tests - this is impressively demonstrated in this article by the team led by Michael A. Crone impressively demonstrates.
Two devices from Analytik Jena were combined: on the one hand, the CyBio FeliX pipetting robot, in which the samples are prepared automatically, and on the other, the qTOWER³ auto thermal cycler, in which the PCR tests are run. This system was validated with both test and real samples.
The solution proved to be as powerful as established diagnostic solutions, with higher throughput. Most importantly, it allows new analyses to be easily integrated, for example, if new mutations or other pathogens need to be detected.
However, the advantage of the described solution lies in its flexibility, whereby new processes can be integrated quickly without any problems. The described solution impressively demonstrates the potential of flexible automation solutions and how they can be used to quickly respond to diagnostic challenges and prevent overloading of existing routine diagnostics.
Winner of Analytik Jena Science Award 2021 Winner of the Analytik Jena Science Award, presented for the third time, for outstanding work produced using Analytik Jena solutions. Due to the current situation, it was again not possible to hold the award ceremony as a live event as usual.
Best Scientific Paper in the Area of Chemical Analysis: Catharina Erbacher, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster
A fast and automated separation and quantification method for bromine speciation analyzing bromide and 5-bromo-2’-deoxyuridine in enzymatically digested DNA samples via ion chromatography-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry
In its justification of its decision, the jury stated:
The submitter´s paper addresses research on the conductivity of DNA molecules, with the PlasmaQuant MS ICP-MS system being employed in the process. As the judging committee expressed it, “DNA, as a molecule of almost any length, has also aroused the interest of material science with its property as an electrical conductor”. Moreover, its “high stability and the possibility of self-organization … has many other useful properties for nanotechnology”, such as information storage. Research into the conductivity properties of the biopolymer is therefore of particular importance.
The paper was published in "Journal of Chromatography A" and in "Pub Med" 2021.
Best Scientific Paper in the Field of Molecular Biology: Richard Pabst, M.Sc., IdentMe GmbH
Moderner Artenschutz mittels eDNA-Analysen (“Modern Species Conservation Using eDNA Analysis”)
In its justification of its decision, the jury stated:
The submitter explains the potential of PCR analysis in the detection of endangered species in their biotopes. PCR technology is now well known to the general public thanks to its use in the detection of SARS-CoV-2. The paper describes the use of the detection of genetic material for species conservation. The technology does not interfere with sensitive ecosystems and therefore upholds the EU Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC. Richard Pabst has also founded the IdentMe startup, which is dedicated to this task, together with Anne Findeisen and Patricia Holm. The award-winning paper impressively illustrates how versatile qPCR can be when used in connection with the qTOWER3 as a detection method.
Publication " Moderner Artenschutz mittels eDNA-Analysen" 21. Dezember 2021, Autoren: Richard Pabst, Patricia Holm, Anne Findeisen, Malena Warnecke.
Winner of Analytik Jena Science Award 2020 Everything was different in 2020. Given the current situation, it wasn’t possible to hold the award ceremony as a live event as it usually would have been the case. Everything ended up delayed – from the announcement of the winners to the presentation.
Best Scientific Paper in the Area of Chemical Analysis: Dr. Daniel Bäcker, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Innsbruck
Fluorination as tool to improve bioanalytical sensitivity and COX-2-selective antitumor activity of cobalt alkyne complexes
In its justification of its decision, the jury stated:
The authors describe their research on oncologically relevant active substances with antitumor-active metal complexes and aspirin as a substructure. They examined the influence of fluorination on improvements in bioanalytical sensitivity and selective antitumor activity. It was shown that the HR-CS MAS technology is a highly sensitive method for the quantification of fluorinated cobalt complexes.
In the future, this approach could potentially become particularly suitable for the analysis of other fluorinated substances in biological samples.
This work builds an impressive bridge between the biochemical and cytological methods and atomic absorption spectrometry. It also indicates that microtiter plate technology is becoming increasingly important for AAS.
The paper was published in "Dalton Transactions" 2019 .
Best Scientific Paper in the Area of Molecular Biology: Dr. Geoffrey A. Behrens, DKMS Life Science Lab GmbH
Noninvasive Determination of CMV Serostatus From Dried Buccal Swab Samples: Assay Development, Validation, and Application to 1.2 Million Samples
In its justification of its decision, the jury stated:
Determining immune status was a challenge for medical diagnosis even before the current COVID-19 crisis. Especially for sample drawing in nonclinical environments and for the automation of subsequent analyses, there have only been few methods available to date. This paper successfully demonstrates a method for identifying CMV infection (cytomegalovirus) through the detection of specific antibodies. The methodology described by the authors makes it possible to detect specific antibodies to CMV from dried buccal swabs with the necessary sensitivity and specificity. CMV serostatus can be successfully determined by means of completely automated analysis, which involves the use of several Analytik Jena devices (CyBio FeliX, Stacker CyBio QuadStack L, CyBio QuadPrint). This paper therefore provides an important concept solution for the automated testing of immune status using dried buccal swabs.
This paper was published in "The Journal of Infectious Diseases" on February 13, 2020.
Winner of Analytik Jena Science Award 2019 With this award, Analytik Jena is honoring scientific articles in which Analytik Jena products have been used find solutions for particularly challenging applications. The award is being presented for the first time at Analytik Jena Days 2019.
Best Scientific Paper in the Area of Chemical Analysis: Dr. Carlos Abad Andrade, BAM Berlin
Determination of boron isotope ratios by high-resolution continuum source molecular absorption spectrometry using graphite furnace vaporizers
In its justification of its decision, the jury stated:
Dr. Carlos Abad and his co-authors studied the measurement of boron isotope ratios using the High-Resolution Continuum Source Atomic Absorption Spectrometer contrAA from Analytik Jena in a graphite furnace. However, molecular absorption is used in AAS instead of atomic absorption. The special molecule is generated directly in the furnace by adding a molecularization reagent. The use of the contrAA made it possible to successfully measure isotope ratios using AAS for the first time. The isotope ratio was measured with an accuracy and precision comparable to ICP-MS, even though the equipment costs for AAS are significantly lower than the ICP-MS multicollector that would otherwise be needed.
The paper appeared in September 2017 in “Spectrochimica Acta Part B” published by Elsevier-Verlag.
Best Scientific Paper in the Area of Molecular Biology: Natalie Rangno, IHD Dresden
In its justification of its decision, the jury stated:
Natalie Rangno and her co-authors studied the importance of automated DNA extraction for the diagnosis of wood-destroying fungi for the purposes of wood and building preservation. In light of the unsuitability of existing extraction systems for plants, yeasts, and bacteria due to the insufficient quantity and poor quality of the extracted DNA, various protocols were optimized for the purification of fungal DNA from wood samples and successfully tested on an automated extraction system. The work produced an automated extraction process using chemical purification methods and the automated Innupure C16 platform from Analytik Jena, which enabled fungal DNA to be isolated from real-life samples to then be used for diagnosis.
The paper was published in “Holztechnologie 57 (2016) 6”.
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