Micro Viscosity Measurements
Micro-rheometry
Rheology is the study of the deformation of matter under applied stress and rheometry is the science of measuring the rheological poperties such as elasticity or Young's modulus and viscosity.
Viscosity is a particularly important parameter when describing formulated biopharmaceuticals. At high API concentrations combined with additional excipients and possible pegylation the formulation can be too viscous to deliver subcutaneously by injection.
Since many commercial rheometers typically require a minimum of 0.5ml or more of sample, investigating the effects of a wide range of formulations on the viscosity, and therefore deliverability, of new biopharmaceuticals can be a very costly process and usually occurs later in the development of a new biopharmaceutical.
Avacta has addressed this key issue by developing a micro-viscometer capable of measuring the viscosity of biopharmaceutical formulations using only a few microlitres of sample and calibrated using traceable viscosity standards. Measurements can be made in either active or passive mode.
Micro-viscometry of biopharmaceuticals is currently offered to manufacturers and researchers by Avacta Analytical Ltd as a contract service and the technology is currently being further developed to provide a comprehensive research tool for medium throughput formulation and stability studies.
Being able to measure the viscosity of a native biopharmaceutical molecule during early development allows an informed approach to identification of the best formulation and pegylation strategies well before manufacturing large quantities of product and finding delivery issues due to excessive viscosity of the final formulation.
Main features of the Avacta Analytical protein/ biopolymer microviscometry service :
| Mode of operation : | Magnetic bead micro-rheometer |
| Sample volume : | 2~5 l |
| Range of measurement : | 0 ~ 1000 cP |
| Temperature control : | 10 - 60 oC |