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How the Creoptix WAVEsystem drove real-time kinetic and affinity analysis for faster and better characterization of candidates – from fragments to biologics. Bioassays, such as the enzyme-linked bioabsorbant assay (ELISA), are standard techniques in the laboratory that require enzyme or fluorescent labels for the detection of target analytes. While these label-based studies give important information about a sample, such as binding affinity, they can only measure the interaction of an analyte at a given concentration and time. This means that such assays are unable to gather kinetic analysis, for example the speed or length of binding. Yet kinetic analysis is fundamental to many stages of the drug discovery and development pipeline, from lead development to complex biologics investigation. Without this data, scientists are forced to make less informed decisions, causing delays to drug discovery and development. To improve decision-making in drug research and development, researchers need instruments that allow them to obtain high-quality kinetics data. The Creoptix WAVEsystem provides label-free interaction analysis allowing you to obtain kinetic and affinity data, alongside evaluation of binding specificity, in real-time. The system is ideal for analyzing samples based on two key patented developments: Grating-Coupled Interferometry (GCI) technology, and no-clog WAVEchip microfluidics systems.

Quality particles need quality dataParticle Works, a sister brand of Dolomite Microfluidics, develops and manufactures expertly engineered nanoparticle synthesis platforms for the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. Its innovative systems are used around the world to produce lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), important delivery vectors for mRNA-based medicines such as vaccines and gene therapy. Developing mRNA-based therapeutics is complex work, requiring highly skilled scientists, high-tech microfluidics platforms and sophisticated analytical equipment, and of course the mRNA itself. As Ben Knappett, Head of Science and Applications at Particle Works, points out: “You don't want to be constantly re-ordering highly expensive mRNA because your process is inefficient. We need ways of reproducibly and reliably generating the particles that encapsulate the mRNA.” LNP developers need reliable, high-quality data to optimize processes and product performance, and this only comes from analytics that provide a full and accurate understanding of their particles. In 2018, Particle Works added the Zetasizer Advance Ultra to its lab to deliver that data, robustly and quickly. The Zetasizer significantly reduced dependence on transmission electron microscopy (TEM), a reliable yet expensive, time-consuming and low-throughput process which became a limiting factor in production efficiency. Dr Knappett confirms that “The Zetasizer Advance has saved us time and money in terms of the experiments we carry out and in the data quality we get. It’s been a star in our lab for a long time now.” The Zetasizer Advance has saved us time and money in terms of the experiments we carry out and in the data quality we get. It's been a star in our lab for a long time now Ben Knappett — Head of Science and Applications, Particle Works

Nanomedicines have the potential to revolutionize healthcare by prolonging the biological half-life of active ingredients, improving targeting, reducing toxicity and increasing bioavailability. In order to realize this promise, the pharmaceutical industry needs fit-for-purpose analytical methods that support cost-effective, large-scale production techniques for liposomal and lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery vectors. With years of experience in the development and manufacturing of liposomal and LNP formulations, Polymun Scientific is leading the way in transforming this promising technology into production reality.

The chemistry department of Université de Paris is well known for its research and educational programs. It includes 500 undergraduates, 70 doctoral and postdoctoral candidates, and more than 90 academics working in a shared lab facility (chemistry, physics and earth sciences) using state-of-the-art instruments and technologies1. A wide range of samples such as metals, ceramics, polymers, and nanomaterials are analyzed in the ultramodern X-ray analysis lab at the university. Dr. Sophie Nowak is responsible for the X-ray platform and XRF analysis systems at the department. Since she works in an academic institution involving numerous scientists with their own fields of interest, she needs robust analytical methods that can be adapted to various types of samples. She encountered an issue a couple of years ago related to the analysis of volcanic ashes, which are known to be very variable and for which the composition must be known quickly.

This success story is about a customer that owns many laboratories to conduct precise and accurate analytical testing of all kinds of geological samples. According to the global XRF Technology Manager, the borate fusion technique has been used in the company’s test labs since the early 90’s to prepare samples. Since sometimes hundreds of samples are produced per day in one of its labs, it was decided to move to automated fusion to better support production volume, to reduce employee costs and to obtain better consistency in final analytical results. Login or register for free to read the entire success story.

The research neutron source Heinz Maier-Leibnitz (FRM II) is a central scientific institute of the Technical University of Munich (TUM). The cooperation between the TUM, Forschungszentrum Jülich and Helmholtz Zentrum Geesthacht (HZG), with the collaboration of the Max Planck Society and nine further University groups, is known as the “Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum” (MLZ). Various working groups of the cooperation partners of the MLZ are conducting research in various fields of which materials science is one.

Drinking water treatment plants are constantly challenged to manage coagulation chemicals as they strive for the precise dosage to enable a stable floc to form. The chemicals are critical to the filtration process, whether it is a convention floc/sed system or direct filtration, including membrane filtration. Chemicals are expensive and account for a considerable amount of a plant’s operating budget, so their oversight can significantly impact the efficiency, operational bottom line, and overall performance of the plant in response to its local demand. Please login or register to read more.

SN Seixal is part of the Spanish Megasa Group founded in 1953. With over a thousand employees as well as 4 production plants located across the Iberian Peninsula, this company specializes in the fabrication of steel products. It has an installed capacity of over three million tons. The SN Seixal plant needs to validate the quality of various ferroalloys added to the scrap metal used to make long steel products such as rebars, wire rods, etc. They randomly analyse several samples on a monthly basis.

Dolomite Microfluidics specializes in the production of high-performance nano- and microparticles which are precision-engineered for advanced functionality and encapsulation. These materials have unique properties determined by their size, shape and architecture which enable them to be used as specialized research tools within biomedicine, diagnostic imaging and industrial catalysis. They depend on technologies which can accurately characterize these 5 nm – 500 µm particles, ensuring that their size and morphology both lie within tightly-controlled limits. Their go-to technique to manage these requirements was transmission electron microscopy (TEM), a reliable yet expensive, time-consuming and therefore low-throughput process which became a limiting factor in their production efficiency. Pavel Abdulkin, Particle Works’ Co-Founder and the Head of Chemistry at Dolomite Microfluidics, said: “By using the Zetasizer Ultra to test our samples we were able to significantly reduce the amount of TEM that we perform, which has enabled us to streamline both our R&D process and our Quality Control, and significantly reduce our analytical costs. Our sample throughput has increased dramatically – we are now looking at around one month per development cycle, as opposed to the 12 months this originally required.”

In their search for a SEC-MALS detector, the UCI group, led by Dr. Fishman, considered a variety of manufacturers, directly comparing between the Viscotek SEC-MALS 20 and its closest competitors. They had previously worked with Malvern Panalytical systems, and again found that the quality of the SEC-MALS 20, in terms of both build and quality of data, and also the technical support offered by Malvern Panalytical were, as Dr. Fishman states, “an unbeatable argument in the decision-making process.” He continued, “I can say without hesitation that the level of customer support has been unprecedented. Malvern Panalytical specialists have been instrumental in our understanding of the concept of triple detection chromatography. They are constantly guiding our students and postdocs to develop experimental intuition, correct understanding of their data, and fine tuning of the experimental conditions. Their support is always available through countless phone and video conference calls, and same day email correspondence. It is no exaggeration to say that we consider them part of our research team.”