CQS-ACM-Continuous Queuing SPR-System for Active Concentration Measurements

Antibodies are immunological proteins that bind to highly specific regions (epitopes) of targets (e.g. foreign proteins or microbes), thereby activating components of the immune system. They have diverse applications in research and industry (e.g. in process analysis and drug development) and medicine (e.g. as diagnostics, prophylactics and therapeutics).Antibodies are immunological proteins that bind to highly specific regions (epitopes) of targets (e.g. foreign proteins or microbes), thereby activating components of the immune system. They have diverse applications in research and industry (e.g. in process analysis and drug development) and medicine (e.g. as diagnostics, prophylactics and therapeutics).
Using hybridoma technology, monoclonal antibodies can be produced from a single B cell clone fused with a non-secreting myeloma cell line via multi-stage cultivations, involving, inter alia, propagation, fermentation and purification. To meet stringent international standards, in industry every step of such processes must be monitored and thoroughly documented. Thus, accurate, reliable and cost-effective sensors and detection systems are required.
Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) spectroscopy has several advantages in this context. It enables observations of molecular interactions in real-time and possibilities to characterize samples without additional molecular labels or time-consuming sample preparation. This is done by monitoring associated shifts in samples’ refractive indices in an evanescent field propagating along a metal-dielectric interface. The receptor is usually immobilized on the metal surface and the target is injected as a solute in the dielectric under microfluidic flow.
Therefore, in cooperation with Sierra Sensors GmbH we aim to develop an SPR-based system for continuous automated monitoring and control of active antibody production. The envisaged multichannel system will allow simultaneous measurements of antibody concentrations (total and active) and their cross-reactivities with selected molecules in single analytical cycles.