Dr Berndt Tartsch, protein applications specialist for size exclusion chromatography and light scattering techniques at Malvern Instruments, is one of three speakers presenting a pre-conference short course on "Protein Aggregation in Biopharmaceutical Products" on 4 October 2010 as part of the 2nd PEGS Europe - Protein & Antibody Engineering Summit. PEGS Europe this year runs alongside Biotechnica in Hannover, Germany.

This short course workshop will examine mechanistic perspectives on aggregation, tools and methods for analysis, and approaches for managing or preventing aggregation Issues. Dr Tartsch will discuss "The Characterization of Protein Aggregation using Light Scattering Techniques".

Aggregation is a common issue associated both with protein isolation and the manufacture of biotherapeutics and its characterization is key. Here chromatographic and light scattering techniques are often used as stand-alone techniques. Dr Tartsch will examine how, when used in combination, they can readily characterize protein aggregates through determination of molecular weight and hydrodynamic radius. This is possible in a single measurement with a small amount of sample. The techniques can also help to optimise the PEGulation process and the characterization of protein conjugates.

The power of these techniques is exemplified in Malvern's Viscotek TDAmax, a powerful gel permeation/size exclusion chromatography (GPC/SEC) system, which is one of a range of protein characterization solutions from Malvern Instruments. The TDAmax measures absolute molecular weight without correction or extrapolation, molecular size (Rh to less than 1 nm and Rg) and intrinsic viscosity. The system's unique triple detector array features a revolutionary low angle light scattering detector, four capillary differential viscometer and differential refractive index detector. An optional UV or PDA (photodiode array) detector can be added to give valuable compositional information.  

For details of Malvern's SEC solutions visit: www.malvern.com/viscotek

For information about  PEGS Europe: http://www.biotechnica.de/search_akl

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