Fast, precise, and accurate quantification technologies are indispensable for efficient process development in applications such as IgG production in a GXP environment. Based on surface plasmon resonance (SPR) technology, the Biacore C system from GE Healthcare (www.biacore.com) is an alternative technology for IgG quantification that has benefits over traditional methods. Assay development is simplified and accelerated due to real-time detection. Assay hands-on time is reduced, and sample throughput can be increased using automation and efficient data evaluation with regulatory-compliant software.…
Monday, June 1, 2009 Daily Archives
New Validation Guidance Causes a Stir
In November 2008 the US FDA finally issued a new draft guidance on process validation (1). The original guidance on this topic was published in May 1987, and the FDA explained that “since then, we have obtained additional experience through our regulatory oversight that allows us to update our recommendations to industry on this topic.” The new guidance is intended to reflect some goals of the FDA’s Pharmaceutical GMPs for the 21st Century, an initiative that was finalized in 2004.…
Global Marketplace
Custom DNA Product: McBox luc minicircle and plasmid DNA Applications: Transfection optimization Features: The McBox luc kit includes 100 µg each of certified minicircle and plasmid DNA, both including the firefly luciferase reporter gene. A vial with endotoxin-free water for injection ensures high quality after dilution. Scientists can now directly compare minicircle DNA with a corresponding “classical” plasmid in individual applications. Minicircle DNA contains almost exclusively the gene of interest and its regulating sequence motifs. This provides a safe and…
BioProcess International Conference and Exhibition
IBC’s BioProcess International Conference and Exhibition (BPI) will head back to the US east coast for 2009 to Raleigh, NC. This has become the largest, most respected forum focusing on technical, regulatory, and strategic planning challenges in the manufacture of biotherapeutics. Four comprehensive conference tracks as well as intimate workshops, strategic discussion groups, training seminars, and colocated conferences will continue to provide you with an interactive and lively format all in one location. BPI allows you to meet face-to-face with…
Applying Intelligent Flow Microscopy to Biotechnology
Ongoing requirements for additional insight and CGMP-compliant measurement have led to interest in new technologies that can be applied to the analysis of many different types of particle-containing fluids. Micro-Flow imaging (MFI) is a robust, versatile, and intelligent vision technology that is increasingly used for evaluating populations of microparticles encountered during bioformulation development (1). It is also being accepted in fill–finish processes and many other biotechnology applications. Features of MFI technology that have contributed to its rising popularity include the…
A Presanitized, Purpose-Designed, Single-Use TFF Strategy
For many years, biopharmaceutical manufacturers have worked to increase capacity, address upstream production issues, and improve product yields. Notable successes recently achieved in upstream technology have significantly increased expression rates and therefore, upstream production capacities. Successes in generating higher titers combined with increasingly stringent quality and regulatory requirements have led to a number of challenges in aligning the efficiency of downstream processing with upstream titers. It is generally recognized that downstream processing costs account for about 70% of…
Automated Liquid Handlers As Sources of Error
Use of automated liquid handling equipment for rapid testing and reproducible screening of thousands of molecules, cells, and compounds has become an essential component of life-science laboratories across the globe. Along with an increase in such use, transferred volumes have shrunk, as demands increase on transfer accuracy and precision when aspirating, diluting, dispensing, mixing, and washing. Automated liquid handlers are generally used to increase the productivity and repeatability of volume transfer, but as discussed here, they are still prone to…
Hydrophobic-Interaction Membrane Chromatography for Large-Scale Purification of Biopharmaceuticals
Biopharmaceutical manufacturing is divided into two areas: upstream fermentation or cell culture and downstream purification processes. Each area contains multiple unit operations. A unit operation is defined as a step in processing using a particular type of equipment. Here, we focus on downstream process development, which must reliably produce a highly purified drug substance (often >99%). Downstream processing includes recovery, capturing, and polishing steps. The primary downstream unit operation is chromatography because of its simplicity and high resolving…
A Single-Use, Scalable Perfusion Bioreactor System
We have previously described a patented nonsparging, nonbubbling oxygen transfer method (1). This method is based on interaction between the air-exposed smooth surface of a bioreactor vessel and culture medium repeatedly sweeping across it with a certain force, which seems to generate microscopic bubbles among the water molecules (2). We manufactured high–oxygen-transfer Current suspension bioreactors with working volumes of 5 L, 50 L, 150 L, and 300 L. Here we describe the use of these suspension bioreactors as “artificial lungs”…
Development of a Turn-Key Harvest Solution for Small-Volume Bioreactors
Over the past 10 years, disposable bioreactors have grown from a niche tool servicing small-scale projects to a common and essential component in the CGMP production of human therapeutics (1). Recent advances in filter integration, aseptic connectors, and disposable sensing allow entire cell culture processes to be performed using only single-use components. However, harvest and clarification operations remain largely dependent on centrifugation, cross-flow filtration, and depth filtration (2), which are all techniques that have not been widely adapted to single-use…