Chemical Identity and Mechanism of Action and Formation of a Cell Growth Inhibitory Compound from Polycarbonate Flasks

Identification of nonvolatile organic compounds (NVOCs) in biopharmaceuticals through non-target analysis and quantification using complexation-precipitation extraction

Single-use systems in biopharmaceutical manufacturing can potentially release chemical constituents (leachables) into drug products. Prior to conducting toxicological risk assessments, it is crucial to establish the qualitative and quantitative methods for these leachables. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive screening and structure elucidation of 23 leachables (nonvolatile organic compounds, NVOCs) in two antibody drugs using multiple (self-built and public) databases and mass spectral simulation. We identified 7 compounds that have not been previously reported in medical or medicinal extractables and leachables. The confidence levels for identified compounds were classified based on analytical standards, literature references, and fragment assignments. Most of the identified leachables were found to be plasticizers, antioxidants, slip agents or polymer degradants. Polysorbate (namely Tween) is commonly used as an excipient for protein stabilization in biopharmaceutical formulations, but its ionization in liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry can interfere with compound quantification. To address this, we employed a complexation-precipitation extraction method to reduce polysorbate content and quantify the analytes. The developed quantitative method for target NVOCs demonstrated high sensitivity (limit of quantification: 20 or 50 μg/L), accuracy (recoveries: 77.2 to 109.5 %) and precision (RSD ≤ 8.2 %). Overall, this established method will facilitate the evaluation of NVOC safety in drug products.

Transformation of Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing Through Single-Use Technologies: Current State, Remaining Challenges, and Future Development

Single-use technologies have transformed conventional biopharmaceutical manufacturing, and their adoption is increasing rapidly for emerging applications like antibody-drug conjugates and cell and gene therapy products. These disruptive technologies have also had a significant impact during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, helping to advance process development to enable the manufacturing of new monoclonal antibody therapies and vaccines. Single-use systems provide closed plug-and-play solutions and enable process intensification and continuous processing. Several challenges remain, providing opportunities to advance single-use sensors and their integration with single-use systems, to develop novel plastic materials, and to standardize design for interchangeability. Because the industry is changing rapidly, a holistic analysis of the current single-use technologies is required, with a summary of the latest advancements in materials science and the implementation of these technologies in end-to-end bioprocesses.

Interaction of leachable model compounds and their impact on Chinese hamster ovary cell cultivation

The presence of leachables in biopharmaceutical processes using single-use technologies (SUT) is well known. For the detection and quantification of the latter, extractable studies of SUT are very common nowadays. Although a mixture of compounds is regularly found in extractable studies, research has only been carried out regarding the effect of individual compounds on cell culture and the cumulative effect of a mix of leachables has not been investigated yet. In this study, a set of leachable model compounds (LMCs) was chosen and the effect of the LMCs on a Chinese hamster ovary DG44 cell line producing an IgG antibody was investigated concerning cell growth, cell cycle distribution and productivity. It was shown that even if worst-case concentrations were used, the LMCs solely impact cell growth. Additionally, interaction studies revealed that the inhibiting effect of the mix is lower than the expected cumulative effect. A strong antagonism between the antioxidant butylated hydroxytoluene and the plasticizer Tris(2-ethylhexyl)trimellitate was found using an isobologram analysis.