Malvern Instruments Highlights New Analytical Instruments for Biopharma at The Bioprocessing Summit

Malvern Instruments is showcasing new analytical tools for biopharmaceutical applications on its exhibition booth at The Bioprocessing Summit in Boston from 19-23 August 2013.

In July the company launched two new systems, the Viscotek SEC-MALS 20 and the Viscosizer 200, for the characterization of biological materials. These join Malvern’s rapidly growing range of analytical instruments, which also includes the Zetasizer Nano ZSP, for use in pre-formulation and formulation studies and for the wider characterization of proteins and other macromolecules.

Viscotek SEC-MALS 20 is the new addition to Malvern’s range of detectors for size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and extends its family of light scattering detectors for measuring the absolute molecular weight of proteins, macromolecules and polymers. This range now includes cost-effective options with unsurpassed performance for every type of light scattering detection – low angle, right angle and multi angle – allowing Malvern to answer every SEC challenge with the most appropriate technology. By combining a Viscotek SEC detector or system with the powerful and intuitive OmniSEC software, it is possible to characterize: absolute molecular weight without extrapolation or correction, molecular size and intrinsic viscosity, as well as investigate branching, structure and aggregation in a single GPC/SEC experiment.

Malvern’s Viscosizer 200 is the latest product to reach commercialization as a result of Malvern’s highly focused Bioscience Development Initiative. Designed primarily to help solve key analytical challenges at the preformulation stage of pharmaceutical, and particularly biopharmaceutical, development, the automated Viscosizer 200 delivers viscosity and molecular size data on UV-active samples, using volumes of less than 10 µL. Measuring viscosity early in the development of biological formulations is critical in order to reduce the number of candidate failures during subsequent stages of development. The Viscosizer 200 has been engineered to give automated, high throughput measurements on extremely low and recoverable sample volumes, and to operate at high sample concentrations under formulation conditions.

Launched last year, the Zetasizer Nano ZSP is the top of the range addition to the established Zetasizer family of light scattering systems. It brings unique performance specifications for both size and zeta potential measurement, one of the most significant applications for which is the measurement of the zeta potential, or electrophoretic mobility, of proteins. This process is further simplified by the inclusion of a new protein mobility measurement type in the software that controls data acquisition, guiding the user through the measurement, and assesses and reports on data quality. Protein mobility is one property that has been identified as a promising indicator of formulation stability, viscosity, and behavior. Therefore, the new protein mobility measurement provided by the Zetasizer Nano ZSP, in combination with the Diffusion Barrier Technique for sample introduction, ensures that the measured electrophoretic mobility is that of the protein, rather than any aggregates present.

Malvern specialists will be on hand throughout the show and look forward to welcoming visitors to the booth.