Observing more closely, making data more reliable, and tracking sample evolution while preserving its integrity as much as possible: new analytical technologies are opening up new horizons for laboratories. From leveraging HPLC data to atomic force microscopy, ChromaPeak and A5 Science explore two different yet complementary approaches to extracting more reliable and relevant scientific information.

In many scientific fields, obtaining accurate information still involves altering the object under study. Staining, dehydration, freezing, fixation, or destructive preparation: certain methods can distance the sample from its original state. At the same time, instruments are generating increasingly large and complex volumes of data. Another question then arises: is it always necessary to have ever more powerful equipment, or can we also make better use of the information produced by existing instruments?

During a session organized by Eurobiomed as part of Forum LABO Lyon 2026 focusing on non-destructive analysis and disruptive technologies for the laboratory, ChromaPeak and A5 Science presented two approaches to tackling this transformation.

An essential technique in many laboratories, high-performance liquid chromatography, or HPLC, continues to evolve. Gradient, analysis run time, flow rate, mobile phase composition, temperature, or choice of stationary phase: numerous parameters can be adjusted to optimize a method. The transition from HPLC to UHPLC has notably made it possible to achieve narrower peaks, improve sensitivity, and reduce analysis times through the use of smaller particles and higher pressures.

However, after decades devoted to improving instrument performance, another path of innovation is gaining momentum: better understanding and leveraging the data generated by instruments. This is precisely where ChromaPeaks positions itself

In complex analyses, particularly in metabolomics, challenges can be numerous: loss of peak resolution, retention time shifts, analytical drift, or difficulty comparing results obtained across multiple instruments or analytical batches. When an anomaly occurs, a seemingly simple question can consume a lot of time:

These investigations can lead to an increase in testing, additional solvent consumption and, naturally, costs for the laboratory. To address this issue, ChromaPeaks is developing a solution combining a chemical calibration mixture and analysis software.

The objective: to create a reference enabling, in particular, the identification of the probable cause of a problem, compliance verification, retention time realignment, and the calculation of retention indices. The solution presented is currently designed for reversed-phase C18 analyses, compatible with HPLC and UHPLC, and intended for small molecules.

The tests presented during the conference illustrate the value of this approach. Under different experimental conditions, retention times could show up to 30% standard deviation. Using the retention index developed from the calibration mixture, the standard deviation observed in the presented tests did not exceed 5%. Beyond just equipment performance, this approach reflects a broader evolution in the analytical laboratory: data itself is becoming a genuine ground for innovation.

A5 Science approaches non-destructive analysis from a completely different angle. In the life sciences, many particularly powerful observation techniques require extensive sample preparation. Cryo-microscopy, electron microscopy, or fluorescence microscopy may notably involve freezing, dehydration, fixation, or molecular labeling. These methods provide essential information. However, in certain situations, they also lead to observing a biological system after it has been frozen or transformed. A central question then arises:

To answer this, A5 Science relies on atomic force microscopy, or AFM.

The principle differs radically from that of conventional microscopy. A nanoscale probe scans the surface of the sample. By measuring the interactions between this tip and the surface, the instrument reconstructs various properties. Historically used particularly in the semiconductor industry to inspect nanoscale structures, atomic force microscopy can also be applied to the study of biological systems and biomaterials. One of its major advantages lies in the ability to perform certain measurements in liquid environments, making it possible to work on biological samples under conditions that preserve their integrity.

On a cell, AFM can, for instance, provide information about its topography, as well as the mechanical properties of its envelope—elasticity, hardness—or even its adhesion properties. And because the sample is not necessarily destroyed during observation, it becomes possible to study its evolution over time.

This capability paves the way for new experiments. For example, it is possible to observe cell reactions after adding an active ingredient, measure the adhesion of certain cells to a functionalized surface, or track the degradation of a polymer subjected to various environmental stresses. Experimental conditions can also be controlled: temperature, pH, medium composition, as well as the addition of an antibiotic or an active ingredient during the measurement.

The objective is therefore no longer solely to obtain an image at a given moment. It becomes possible to seek to understand how a sample's properties evolve depending on its environment. These analyses align notably with the field of mechanobiology, which studies the mechanical properties of biological systems and their role in how they function: morphology, adhesion, viscoelasticity, aging, or interactions with their environment.

At first glance, HPLC and atomic force microscopy belong to two very different worlds. Yet, the approaches presented by ChromaPeaks and A5 Science share the same philosophy. On the one hand, it is about extracting more value from existing analytical data, by improving their reliability and comparability. On the other hand, it is about gathering new information about a sample while preserving its integrity and observation conditions as much as possible.

Two approaches that illustrate a broader evolution in the laboratory: performance is no longer measured solely by the power or precision of an instrument. It also lies in our ability to understand the data produced, master experimental conditions, and obtain truly relevant information while minimizing sample alteration.

Article produced from the session dedicated to non-destructive analysis and breakthrough technologies for the laboratory, organized by Eurobiomed during Forum LABO Lyon 2026.