Analysis of Protein Aggregates Hydrodynamic Diameter by Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC) (CAT#: STEM-B-0304-CJ)

Introduction

The generic term 'aggregates' refers to species characterized by a wide size range, diverse morphologies and structures. Protein aggregates may start in the low nanometer size range but then can grow into the micrometer and even visible size range.

Most protein therapeutics and many other biopharmaceutical compounds are inherently unstable and can undergo aggregation through various pathways. Aggregates of various kinds can be formed, such as reversible and non-reversible, soluble, and non-soluble etc. In addition,Aggregation maybe occur because of exposure to air-liquid or liquid-solid interfaces, e.g., during mixing, during filling and shipping, during reconstitution of lyophilized products, or through contact with chromatography columns, pumps, pipes, vessels, filters, etc. Aggregation can directly influence the efficacy of the therapy by reducing the number of functional molecules, but also indirectly influence efficacy as well as safety of a therapy by inducing side-effects, such as unwanted immunogenicity.

The hydrodynamic diameter (Dh) of a molecule is defined as the diameter of a perfect solid sphere that would exhibit the same hydrodynamic friction as the molecule of interest. Thus, the Dh value reflects primarily the hydrodynamic friction but is usually also a good estimation of the absolute size of the molecule.