Advanced fluoropolymer materials offer distinct advantages in single-use systems regarding chemical compatibility, extractable levels, and cold-temperature performance. In a 5 April 2017 webcast, Michael W. Johnson (business development engineering manager for life sciences at Entegris) examined data from pilot-scale testing of a new single-use bag system for freezing, storage, and shipping of formulated bulk biologics. Johnson’s Presentation Factors restricting disposables use in biopharmaceutical development include bag breakage, concerns over extractables and leachables, and material incompatibility. Bioprocessors want new and improved…
Author Archives: Michael W. Johnson
How Advanced Single-Use Polymeric Materials Influence Extractables Testing
Implementation of single-use systems in both upstream and downstream applications continues to grow rapidly. Parallel to that growth is the concern about purity levels of polymeric single-use systems because compounds found in disposable materials of construction can leach into process fluids or final drug products. By definition, extractables studies are intended to identify chemical substances that could migrate into process fluids. These tests generally take place under exaggerated conditions that exceed those typically found in bioprocess manufacturing or storage. Industry…
Comparison of Concentration Measurement Technologies in Bioprocess Solutions
Biopharmaceutical manufacturing involves complex process steps. Exacting production conditions are typically required to maximize the yield, purity, and quality of biological products. In recent years, process analytical technology (PAT) has been increasingly used to monitor key process and performance parameters in real time. That has enabled better control of production conditions. An important parameter required to achieve consistent results in many bioprocessing steps is solute concentration in process fluids. The Critical Need for Concentration Measurement Many biopharmaceutical manufacturing process steps require measuring…
Understanding Particulates in Single-Use Bags
The biopharmaceutical industry is facing many challenges. Global economic changes, increasing healthcare costs, expiring patents, and increasingly personalized medicine all affect the way manufacturers approach bioprocessing steps and the equipment and systems used to make biological drug products (1). Demands for smaller batch sizes, greater process flexibility, reduced manufacturing costs, and increased speed to clinic have driven the acceptance of single-use systems (SUSs) in this industry (Figure 1). SUS suppliers have rapidly developed components such as fittings, tubing, pumps, sensors,…
The Influence of Polymer Processing on Extractables and Leachables
Polymers provide a unique set of material properties, including toughness, chemical resistance, versatility, and low cost for both multiple-use and single-use bioprocessing systems. Polymer materials are manufactured as fittings and tubing for research and development (R&D) laboratories, as containers for bulk chemical and biological storage, as filters and separation technologies for downstream processing, and as containers and bottles for drug substance storage. These components and systems are helping drug companies improve their manufacturing flexibility, reduce their operating costs and capital…