A Powerful Method To Develop Highly Concentrated Protein Formulations

Proteins perform an array of functions in living organisms, from structural scaffolds and signaling molecules to catalysts and cell-surface receptors. Structural perturbations and aberrant protein production are associated with many disease states, making these macromolecules potential candidates for pharmaceuticals. This strategy became a reality following the advent of recombinant DNA technologies, which allowed proteins to be produced on a large scale. Issues related to protein solubility can limit this approach, however, and drastically reduce the number of possible therapeutics that can be delivered to patients. “Solutions” to this problem are highly desirable.

Traditionally, light scattering techniques have been used to obtain measurements of a protein's size and, therefore, its stability in various formulations. But recently self-interaction chromatography (SIC) has been introduced as a more powerful method for developing highly concentrated protein formulations - and in a much shorter time period.