Biopharmaceuticals and Protein Analysis

Here are the top five articles that the editors of LCGC International published this week.

In this edition of the LCGC Blog, Jonathan Edelman discusses the 43rd Annual International Symposium and Exhibit on the Separation, Purification, and Characterization of Biologically Important Molecules (ISPPP) and provides a timeline for the upcoming conference.

The 26th Norwegian Symposium on Chromatography was held 21–23 January 2024. The symposium has strong traditions in the Norwegian separation science community, serving as a forum for excellent scientific talks, networking, and social events.

Scientists from Auburn University recently investigated how natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) can be incorporated into high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) mobile phases.

Scientists recently tested a new system for detecting and extracting favipiravir from plasma samples.

This article explores the key challenges analytics and mass spectrometry solve within the biopharmaceutical industry.

A recent study conducted protein analysis using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) and a platform that utilizes copper oxide particles.

Scientists from Western Michigan University tested how amino acids can affect protein stability during electrothermal supercharging.

A review of advances in mRNA analysis using LC and LC–MS.

Biopharmaceutical analysis is a rapidly evolving field that requires the development of new technologies and methods to keep pace with the increasing complexity of biologics. One of the most promising areas of research is the use of single-cell omics and microfluidic chips for the analysis of biopharmaceuticals. Single-cell omics has revolutionized our understanding of cellular heterogeneity, while microfluidic chips have enabled high-throughput analysis of single cells that provide an understanding of the complex biological network that complements the genomics and transcriptomics studies. This article will explore some of the emerging trends and technologies in biopharmaceutical analysis, with a particular focus on single-cell omics and microfluidic chips. We will also discuss the developments in ambient ionization mass spectrometry such as sub nanoampere ionization and the potential of low current ionization in studying cell-to-cell heterogeneity and its role in metabolomics.

Scientists from Fudan University in Shanghai, China created a system for reducing retention-time variations in metabolomic analysis using ultrahigh-performance liquid-chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS).

An introduction from our guest editors.

Innovative native separation strategies coupled with native mass spectrometry techniques to characterize biopharmaceuticals close to their natural state are described.

The authors discuss key findings from recent biosimilarity assessments they conducted on biosimilars of granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), insulin glargine, rituximab, and trastuzumab.

Researchers explore the benefits of a mobile affinity selection chromatography (MASC) luminon assay method to assess the quality of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies.

Scientists recently used laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (LDI-MS) to detect toxic alkaloids in traditional Chinese medicines (TCM).

Two scientists from Baskent University in Ankara, Turkey analyzed multiple proteins in cream formulation using reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography.

Scientists from Zhejiang, China recently conducted experiments meant to properly characterize sucrose ester isomers from tobacco samples.

We present formulation and delivery of gene therapy products, focusing on adeno-associated virus (AAV) formulations. We also discuss the analytical technologies most used to characterize these products.

This month we interview Zhuoheng Zhou from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel in Belgium, about his focus on advancing instrumental and column technologies for modern chromatography and its applications in novel biopharmaceutical modalities and proteomics. We also spoke to him about his work developing a protocol to help with the design of polymer monolithic capillary columns.

A recent study published in the Journal of American Society of Mass Spectrometry introduced a new method for characterizing nonpolar lipids (1).

Scientists from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah, created a new technique to characterize lipids, specifically glycolipids, using ion mobility spectrometry–mass spectrometry (IMS-MS).

The comprehensive characterization of multispecific antibodies is essential to the development of safe and efficacious cancer treatments.

The methodologies demonstrated here open the way to fully compliant at-line monitoring of monoclonal antibody quality attributes.

Researchers from Texas A&M University presented a new N–H aziridination method designed to target carbon–carbon double bonds in nonpolar sterol lipids.