How Nitrogen Blowdown Supports the SCIEX Lipidyzer Platform: Enhancing Lipidomics Sample Preparation

July 10, 2025 / David Oliva

In lipidomics research, the quality and reproducibility of results depends heavily on diligent sample preparation. The SCIEX Lipidyzer platform, a novel solution for quantitative lipid analysis, is an instrument that can perform sample preparation, automated workflow procedures, and streamlined data processing [1, 2]. It can be used in a variety of different lipid based applications with various biological matrices [1]. This platform requires efficient and gentle solvent removal to ensure accurate measurements of lipid species [1-3]. This makes nitrogen blowdown evaporation a critical step in this workflow and an indispensable tool for Lipidyzer users.

Why Nitrogen Blowdown?

During lipid extraction and sample cleanup, samples are typically dissolved in organic solvents such as methanol or chloroform. Before LC-MS/MS analysis with the Lipidyzer, these solvents must be removed to prevent analytical interference, concentrate the desired analytes, and protect the instruments performance integrity [1]. Multiple SCIEX protocols recommend evaporating this solvent under a gentle stream of nitrogen during the extraction phase [3-6].

SCIEX Lipidyzer Protocols

Multiple SCIEX targeted lipidomics protocols emphasize the importance of the nitrogen evaporation step in sample preparation. For example, after lipid extraction from plasma or tissue, the instructions state “Evaporate solvent under a stream of nitrogen”, followed by resuspension of target lipids in the injection solution [5, 6]. For a more specialized lipid mediator analysis, the protocol specifies: “Evaporate sample completely under a gentle stream of nitrogen. The samples can be heated (but do not exceed 37°C) during this step to speed up the evaporation process. The intensity of the nitrogen stream can be increased as the sample volume decreases. Make sure sample liquid droplets do not get dispersed from the bottom of the tube.” [4]. This careful approach ensures that even volatile lipid species are preserved, and that the final sample is free of residual solvent before instrumental analysis.

Key reasons for using nitrogen blowdown:

- Gentle Evaporation: Nitrogen blowdown is a non-destructive process that can be performed without heat, preserving sensitive lipid species prone to degradation. This is crucial for accurate quantitation [7].

- Efficient Solvent Removal: A steady stream of nitrogen gas accelerates evaporation by displacing solvent vapors, resulting in faster and more uniform drying compared to passive evaporation methods [7].

- Minimized Contamination: Nitrogen blowdown reduces the risk of sample loss or cross-contamination, which can occur with alternative drying methods.

- Reproducibility: Various Organomation products are designed to ensure consistent drying across samples, enabling repeatable results, which is essential for high-throughput lipidomics [7].

Organomation's Advantage

Organomation’s nitrogen evaporators, including the MICROVAP and N-EVAP lines, are designed specifically for these kinds of workflows. They offer the following advantages:

- Uniform nitrogen distribution across multiple samples for parallel processing.

- Precise temperature control to gently accelerate evaporation without risking analyte degradation.

- Flexible configurations for tubes, vials, or microplates to match your Lipidyzer sample formatting.

- Efficient, hands-free operation to boost throughput and free up valuable laboratory work time.

With over 65 years of experience, Organomation’s evaporators are trusted by laboratories worldwide to deliver consistent, high-quality results [8].

Conclusion

Whether you're conducting academic research, running commercial tests, or working in a clinical lab, selecting the right nitrogen blowdown evaporator can have a significant impact on your workflow efficiency and data quality. For users of the SCIEX Lipidyzer platform, these evaporators aren’t just helpful—they're essential. They enable:

- Complete and gentle solvent evaporation
- Protection of delicate lipid species
- Consistent, high-quality data
- Fast, high-throughput sample prep

Looking to get more out of your lipidomics workflow? See how pairing your SCIEX Lipidyzer system with an Organomation nitrogen evaporator can improve sample preparation and deliver more accurate, reproducible results.

Find the best nitrogen evaporator model for your needs with our evaporator product finder tool!

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