Diehm, J. / Witting, L. / Kirschhöfer, F. / Brenner‑Weiß, G. / Franzreb, M. (2023)

Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 2023, doi.org/10.1007/s00216-023-05023-9

Abstract
Continuous manufacturing is becoming increasingly important in the (bio-)pharmaceutical industry, as more product can be produced in less time and at lower costs. In this context, there is a need for powerful continuous analytical tools. Many established off-line analytical methods, such as mass spectrometry (MS), are hardly considered for process analytical technology (PAT) applications in biopharmaceutical processes, as they are limited to at-line analysis due to the required sample preparation and the associated complexity, although they would provide a suitable technique for the assessment of a wide range of quality attributes. In this study, we investigated the applicability of a recently developed micro simulated moving bed chromatography system (μSMB) for continuous on-line sample preparation for MS. As a test case, we demonstrate the continuous on-line MS measurement of a protein solution (myoglobin) containing Tris buffer, which interferes with ESI-MS measurements, by continuously exchanging this buffer with a volatile ammonium acetate buffer suitable for MS measurements. The integration of the μSMB significantly increases MS sensitivity by removing over 98% of the buffer substances. Thus, this study demonstrates the feasibility of on-line μSMB-MS, providing a versatile PAT tool by combining the detection
power of MS for various product attributes with all the advantages of continuous on-line analytics.

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