MIP Technologies and Supelco Launch a New Selective SPE Product for Analysis of Tobacco-Specific Nitrosamines

Fast and cost-effective molecularly imprinted polymer technique has applications in testing of tobacco-specific nitrosamines in urine

Lund, Sweden, May 22, 2007 - MIP Technologies AB and Supelco, a division of Sigma-Aldrich (NASDAQ: SIAL), a leading USD 1.7 billion Life Science and High Technology company, announced today the launch of a new solid phase extraction (SPE) product for the selective extraction of tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs).

The SupelMIP(TM) TSNA cartridge is selective for the tobacco specific nitrosamines: NNN, NNK, NAT, NAB. Tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs) are a class of known carcinogens that are found only in tobacco products. The TSNAs are created during fermentation, curing and burning of the tobacco leaf. Exposure to TSNAs from tobacco products can be confirmed by their detection in e.g. urine.

Conventional methods used for sample preparation of TSNAs are very elaborate and time-consuming. Extraction with the new TSNA SupelMIP(TM) is fast and cost effective and the total sample pre-treatment time is less than two hours.

The method is robust, recoveries achieved are higher than 90 percent and the clean extracts allow low detection levels with minimized matrix effects.

The SPE sorbents based on molecularly imprinted polymers have been developed by MIP Technologies. SupelMIP(TM) is a trade mark of Supelco, which distributes the product worldwide.

"As the release of SPE products continues for difficult targets, we expect to establish molecular imprinting as the method of choice for such applications," said Dr Christine Widstrand, VP Sales & Marketing at MIP Technologies. "The high recoveries, speed and ease of extraction and elimination of traditional, labor-intensive extraction steps are hallmarks of the SupelMIP(TM) product family."

"With molecularly imprinted polymer technology, analysts can reach a level of sample prep extraction selectivity that could not be achieved by conventional means," said An Trinh, Product Manager, Supelco. "With the widespread advent of mass spec technology, more and more methods are requiring lower limits of quantitation when analyzing difficult and dirty sample matrices. Improvements in selectivity during sample preparation is absolutely critical. By merging the strengths of both organizations in this collaborative effort, a new generation of innovative molecularly imprinted polymers and applications will emerge."

About MIP Technologies:
MIP Technologies AB is a world leading company in the development of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs). The Company is a pioneer in the commercial applications of MIPs, holds important patents and maintains cutting-edge research activities in the area. The Company's mission is to provide innovative products based on molecularly imprinted polymers that serve industry's needs in analytical, preparative and process scale 'selective separations'. The Company has environmental permission to produce MIP phases at the 500 kg level and is well placed to develop large scale separation solutions for its customers. Currently the Company develops analytical separation products (e.g. SPE) and has multiple custom process scale projects in place with several blue chip companies. MIP Technologies has its headquarters in Lund, Sweden. For more information about MIP Technologies AB visit www.miptechnologies.com

About Sigma-Aldrich:
Sigma-Aldrich is a leading Life Science and High Technology company. Its biochemical, analytical, and organic chemical products and kits are used in scientific and genomic research, biotechnology, pharmaceutical development, the diagnosis of disease and as key components in pharmaceutical and other high technology manufacturing. The Company has customers in life science companies, university and government institutions, hospitals, and in industry. Over one million scientists and technologists use its products. Sigma-Aldrich operates in 35 countries and has 7,200 employees providing excellent service worldwide. Sigma-Aldrich is committed to Accelerating Customer Success through Leadership in Life Science, High Technology and Service. For more information about Sigma-Aldrich, please visit its award- winning Web site at http://sigma-aldrich.com.

Cautionary Statement:
This release contains forward-looking statements relating to future performance, goals, strategic actions and initiatives and similar intentions and beliefs and other statements regarding the Companies' expectations, goals, beliefs, intentions and the like, which involve assumptions regarding the Companies' operations and conditions in the markets the Companies serve. The Companies do not undertake any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
 

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Andrew Lloyd / Neil Hunter
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