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Biologics are very difficult to work with at times. Once a target
is identified, there are many considerations about how to best
handle it throughout the development workflow. There are many
properties researchers examine when considering what makes a
biologic candidate "good." One of the properties researchers are
most concerned with is stability. Stability is key for biologics, as
it ensures that the candidate will survive the manufacturing and
scale-up processes, as well as the experimental assays and clinical
handling necessary for a successful drug. Stability is affected by
many variables, including protein sequence, buffer formulation,
additives, and storage temperature. Optimizing these conditions
to ensure proper dosage and activity of a biologic is called
formulation, and is a major focus of biologics development.
How do we improve outcomes for
biologics?
Here's where DLS comes in. Dynamic light scattering is a
valuable technology that gives biologics researchers a deep
understanding of how their formulations affect the biologics
throughout their workflow. DLS allows researchers to
distinguish different aggregation or polymerization patterns.
It also provides information about molecular properties like
the average size and distribution of sizes in solution. It is non-
invasive and incredibly sensitive to the presence of even trace
amounts of aggregation in a formulation.
Let's look more closely at some of the ways DLS information
can help improve the development of biologics.
