SBIR-STTR Award

Leiden Measurement Technology (LMT) proposes to build the Automated Recovery and Isolation of Extraterrestrial Lipids (ARIEL) instrument. This instrument will be created to autonomously isolate and concentrate amino acids and fatty acids from samples delivered to the instrument. These chemical species have long been chemical targets of NASA missions and may be indicative of life. More specifically, ARIEL is a sample processing instrument that will extract ions, amino acids, fatty acids and non -polar organic molecules from either solid, liquid, or mixed samples. The ARIEL sample chamber will be equipped with an ultrasonic horn which not only increases the extraction efficiency of the target analytes, but also lyses any cellular material, thus making it available for further characterization. ARIEL will autonomously carry out a pair of sequential extractions, the first of which removes ions, amino acids and small fatty acids. The second extraction dissolves medium and long chain fatty acids as well as any non-polar organic compounds present in the sample. ARIEL’s fluidic system will send the first extraction solution to a processing channel equipped with a solid phase extraction (SPE) column that will specifically isolate amino acids and short chain fatty acids. Any other ions in solution will pass through the column. The second extraction solution will be sent to a separate channel containing an SPE column designed to remove medium and long chain fatty acids while other non-polar organic species pass through the second column. Once the target analytes are isolated on two separate SPE columns they can be washed, eluted with a minimum volume of solvents, and delivered to ARIEL’s two separate outputs. These outputs can be designed to interface with derivatization systems and analytical instrumentation used by NASA such as GCMS, LCMS or LDMS. Potential NASA Applications (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words): NASA is interested in detecting low concentrations of amino acids and fatty acids since they are indicative of life under the appropriate conditions. AREIL uses UAE to efficiently remove amino acids and all fatty acids (including short chain species) from either solid or liquid samples. The de-salted, concentrated analytes are concentrated on solid phase extraction materials at low temperatures and autonomously delivered to on board analytical instruments for characterization. Potential Non-NASA Applications (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words): Non-NASA uses of ARIEL include the processing of difficult to handle samples such as soils, minerals or food stuffs which can be either wet or dry solids. ARIEL can also process mixed (solid and liquid) samples such as dairy samples. The isolation and concentration of the target analytes allows for easier detection of species that may be present at very low concentrations. Duration: 6

LMT proposes to design an instrument for the Automated Recovery and Isolation of Extraterrestrial Lipids (ARIEL) instrument. ARIEL is a sample processing module that can isolate and concentrate fatty acids and amino acids from complex sample matrices (solid, liquid or mixed-phase). It provides concentrated samples cleaned of mineral grains, dissolved ions, and other non-target molecules to enhance detection limits, speciation, and avoids sample degradation during pyrolysis (or other) steps that analytical instruments may employ. ARIEL uses a combination of low-temperature ultrasonic assisted extraction (UAE), solid phase extraction SPE and novel engineering to outperform other sample processing instruments that otherwise expose the analytes to high-temperatures and pressures; are not compatible with organic solvents; only extract medium- and long-chain fatty acids; fail to isolate amino acids, and/or cannot process solid samples. ARIEL overcomes those challenges by operating as follows: a sample is first processed by two sequential ultrasonically-assisted solvent extractions with solvents chosen to target different analytes: (1) amino acids and short-chain fatty acids and (2) medium- and large-chain fatty acids. For each extraction step, the solvent and extracted analytes are filter-separated from the solids and passed through SPE columns that isolate and concentrate: (1) amino acids and short-chain fatty acids; and (2) medium- and large-chain fatty acids. Separate elution steps will be carried out on each column so that ARIEL will output concentrated (and de-salted) samples ready for analysis. Anticipated

Benefits:
NASA has had a long-standing goal of detecting organic molecules throughout the universe. This knowledge provides information about chemical mixing (mainly from small bodies), sheds light on geochemical processes that occur on surfaces, and can provide evidence for extraterrestrial life. More specifically, NASA is interested in detecting amino and fatty acids which are in relatively low abundance. The ARIEL instrument both isolates and concentrates these molecules, thus boosting the detection limits of pre-existing analytical instrumentation. Non-NASA applications of the ARIEL include research facilities that need an automated system for isolating amino and fatty acids. While there are a few processors on the market none have the properties of ARIEL. Another application for ARIEL is in the food and beverage industry. Specifically, quality control in the dietary supplement sector that includes fatty acids in various formulations.