High-throughput injectability screening of high concentration protein formulations by microfluidic quartz resonators

Qatch Technologies, Llc, Chapel Hill NC

Investigators

Abstract

The objective of this SBIR Direct Phase II proposal is to carry QATCH’s nanovisQ™ technology, which is a wide-shear-rate range and low volume viscometer for determining developability and injectability of biopharmaceutical formulations, from single-test sensors to high-throughput and automated format. This objective is motivated by the needs of the growing protein-based biopharmaceutical therapeutics industry (with global market size over $300 billion). Protein-based therapeutics are administered as high concentration formulations due to the volume constraints of subcutaneous injections. However, increased protein-protein interactions at these high concentrations can cause high viscosity and prevent injectability and manufacturability. Existing viscometers consume high volumes of sample, which prevents early-stage assessment and still have high protein and time costs at later stages. By developing a high-throughput, automated, wide shear rate range, low volume viscometer, protein molecules and formulations can be optimized for injectability/manufacturability earlier with less cost and risk. This proposal is significant because the proposed device can start assessing injectability of protein formulations earlier in drug development, perform this test in a higher number of formulations faster and with less material than existing technologies and consequently reduce the time and cost of R&D spent in developing new, injectable protein-based therapeutics considerably. As preliminary studies, QATCH demonstrated wide-shear-rate and low sample volume viscometers for protein formulations in single- test format. In addition, QATCH showed that 4 simultaneous measurements from 4 sensors with 9 mm spacing on the same quartz blank can be achieved accurately. As a result, the nanovisQ™ is now positioned to be a 6x4 sensor matrix and automated viscometer for high concentration protein formulations. In SBIR Phase II QATCH is proposing to 1) develop 4-sensor arrays with extended shear-rate viscosity measurements to serve high- concentration protein formulations 2) develop 6x4 sensor matrix for the high-throughput system with environmental control and the automated sample delivery capability. Developing a high-throughput and automated low-sample volume viscometer is a key step towards commercialization since low-sample volume and high-throughput are two most important parameters for drug development groups.