Development of an automated mid-scale parallel protein purification system for antibody purification and affinity chromatography.

Protein purification is often a bottleneck during protein generation for large molecule drug discovery. Therapeutic antibody campaigns typically require the purification of hundreds of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) during the hybridoma process and lead optimization. With the increase in high-throughput cloning, faster DNA sequencing, and the use of parallel protein expression systems, a need for high-throughput purification approaches has evolved, particularly in the midsize range between 20 ml and 100 ml. To address this we modified a four channel Gilson solid phase extraction system (referred to as MG-SPE) with switching valves and sample holding loops to be able to perform standard affinity purification using commercially available columns and micro-titer format deep well blocks. By running 4 samples in parallel, the MG-SPE has the capacity to purify up to 24 samples of greater than 50 ml each using a single-step affinity purification protocol or a two-step protocol consisting of affinity chromatography followed by desalting/buffer exchange overnight (∼12 h run time). Our evaluation of affinity purification using mAbs and Fc-fusion proteins from mammalian cell supernatants demonstrates that the MG-SPE compared favorably with industry standard systems for both protein quality and yield. Overall the system is simple to operate and fills a void in purification processes where a simple, efficient, automated system is needed for affinity purification of midsize research samples.

Fused deposition modeling provides solution for magnetic resonance imaging of solid dosage form by advancing design quickly from prototype to final product.

The release profile of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) from its solid dosage form is an important aspect of drug development as it is often used to predict potential drug release characteristics of a product in vivo. In recent years, magnetic resonance imaging has emerged as a nondestructive technique that captures the physical changes of solid dosage forms during dissolution. An example that highlights this application is in the dissolution of modified-release tablet studies. As the tablet dissolves, API disperses in a hydrogel matrix within the tablet, and swelling of the hydrogel layer eventually leads to release of API over time. To achieve optimum signal-to-noise ratios, the tablet should be placed in the most homogeneous region of the magnet and remain there throughout the dissolution experiment. Moreover, the tablet holder must maintain the tablet position without interfering with the natural dissolution process, such as by crushing the softened tablet. This can be difficult because the size, shape, and rigidity of the tablet change during dissolution. This article describes the process, material, and manufacture of a novel device that meets these challenges, with emphasis on how additive manufacturing on a 3D printer enabled an efficient and inexpensive process of design improvements.