News

Posted On: 10/24/2007

Malvern's Complimentary Webinars Support PAT Understanding

PharmaManufacturing.com

Malvern Instruments is offering a series of free webinars throughout November. Scheduled topics range from introductory level to more advanced discussion geared to specific industries, applications and technologies. Topics covered this month include:

Friday Nov. 2 - 10.30am US EDT / 2.30pm UK GMT
"Near Infrared Chemical Imaging of Pharmaceuticals and Quality by Design"
Presented by Jerry Sando, Malvern Instruments

What? How much? Where? These questions all need answers when characterizing complex samples. Does the API preferentially bind to an excipient, or is it evenly distributed throughout a sample? Do the components aggregate to form large domains that may impact bioavailability?

Answering these questions can be critical to establish the design space that will provide "assurance of quality" in finished products. Malvern Instruments has a unique approach to Near Infrared Chemical Imaging that enables statistically robust results to be rapidly obtained. This speed is a tremendous benefit when hundreds of different samples are being analyzed through the Design of Experiments process. This webinar will present the technology, a variety of applications from the pharmaceutical industry, and a discussion of how to derive statistically meaningful, reproducible, and quantitative results.

Tuesday Nov. 6 - 10.30am US EST / 3.30pm UK GMT
"Comparison of Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC) with Absolute Size Exclusion Chromatography (ASEC)"
Presented by Jean-Luc Brousseau, Malvern Instruments

Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC) is a well-known technique for characterizing macromolecules. For proteins, SEC at best gives some indication of the molecular weight. In this presentation we will compare SEC with Absolute Size Exclusion Chromatography (ASEC), which gives the absolute size of proteins. Using a simple size to molecular weight conversion, the molecular weight is estimated. We will show some examples of protein measurements using ASEC.

Wednesday Nov. 7 - 10.30am US EST / 3.30pm UK GMT
"Rheology Forum Focus: Rheology of Ageless Foams"
Presented by Assistant Professor, Stephan Koehler, WPI

Foams are metastable structures that are continually aging due to bubble coarsening and fluid drainage. These processes complicate measurements of their steady-state properties, such as their shearing behavior. In this presentation we will show the foam drainage rheology technique that creates a steady-state foam by fluid perfusion, which counteracts drainage, and bubble replenishment. Agreement of the measurements with existing theory is inadequate and a new rheological model based upon a different dissipation mechanism is proposed. In addition to showing better agreement, advantages of the model are its relative simplicity and fewer free parameters.

Tuesday Nov. 13 - 1.30pm EST / 6.30pm UK GMT
"Particle Sizing by Dynamic Light Scattering: Zetasizer Nano Series and HPPS Training Course for Malvern Users"
Presented by Dr Ana Morfesis, Malvern Instruments

Introducing the Malvern Instruments Zetasizer Nano Series and HPPS instrumentation using NIBS (Non-Invasive BackScatter TM) technology. An overall training session for new users covering a broad range of topics that will include an introduction to software, basics of dynamic light scattering theory, making measurements and an introduction to data interpretation. If you have recently purchased a Zetasizer Nano S, Nano ZS or HPPS this will be a useful webinar.

Wednesday Nov. 14 - 1.30pm EST / 6.30pm UK GMT
"Zeta Potential: Zetasizer Nano Series Z or ZS Training Course for Malvern Users"
Presented by Dr. Ana Morfesis, Malvern Instruments

This course focuses on Zeta Potential and measurements made using a Zetasizer Nano Z or ZS. This course begins with a general overview of colloidal stability, introduces the concept of a double layer, develops an understanding of electrophoretic mobility measurements and zeta potential. Course objectives include: an overview of colloid stability; understanding the basis of Zeta Potential or electrophoretic mobility measurements using laser doppler velocimetry;
preparing samples and other practical aspects of making Zeta Potential measurements; developing an understanding of the data quality; and optimizing data/results.

Thursday Nov. 15 - 10.30am US EST / 3.30pm UK GMT
"Studying Conformational Changes Which Occur When Proteins Bind Metal Ions"
Presented by Dr Neville Freeman, Farfield Scientific Ltd.

In this webinar, the use of the surface characterization technique Dual Polarization Interferometry (DPI) to study the structural changes that proteins undergo when they bind metal ions will be discussed. Metal ions play a role in a wide range of everyday biological processes involving proteins. It is important to understand their mechanism of action as diseased states, including prion ('mad cow') diseases, result in changes in protein-to-metal ion-binding behaviors.

Metal ions are known to modulate the activity of proteins through a number of mechanisms including:
Acting as an intermediate in protein:ligand and protein:protein interactions
Bridging amino acid residues and domains (often associated with 'putative' structural changes)
Playing a direct role in active site exchanges, acting either in an electron transfer role or as a nucleophilic catalyst

Although there are a wide range of metal ions available, biological processes are very often metal ion-specific. Therefore understanding not just which metal ions bind but also the structural consequences of binding, offers important mechanistic insights into their mode of action. The conformational changes effected in proteins by metal ion binding can be extraordinarily large. The webinar will include a brief overview of DPI. Differences in the practical approach when compared to other optical techniques will be examined. A number of examples of metal ion binding of relevance to a diverse range of biological processes from the blood clotting cascade to infectious diseases such as prion diseases will be discussed.

Wednesday Nov. 28 - 10.30am US EST / 3.30pm UK GMT
"Aggregation of Proteins Using ASEC with the Zetasizer Nano"
Presented by Jean-Luc Brousseau, Malvern Instruments

Aggregation number and aggregation concentration are two parameters that may contribute to enhanced immune response. This is well documented and the FDA recommends monitoring aggregation. We will show how the Zetasizer Nano is used to measure the size and stability of proteins in solution. Coupled with chromatography, a more resolved distribution is shown with evident aggregation and aggregation numbers.

For more information or to register for any of these webinars, visit 
www.malvern.com/malvern/semmgr.nsf/webseminar?OpenView&site=eng&month=11-2007&utm_campaign=novwebinarinvite&utm_medium=email&O27utm_source=2410Engemailinvithtm&utm_content=2410Engemailinvithtmbutevent.