It is common for biologics manufacturing processes to require hundreds of raw materials, ranging from media and media supplements, buffers, and salts to other process chemicals.
Buffers and salts are typically the largest constituents by volume used in the downstream processing steps for manufacturing most biopharmaceutical products. A typical monoclonal antibody (mAbs) (mAb) process may require 2000 L of a buffer and more than 100,000 L per batch based on titer and bioreactor volume (1, 2). As a result, the variety of buffer solutions used across a biopharma manufacturing facility requires flexible, cost-efficient infrastructure and on-time delivery to meet process demand.
At the same time, the growing use of single-use systems offers many advantages in managing raw materials used in bioprocessing. Single-use technologies add flexibility, reduce capital requirements, and improve ease-of-use in biopharma manufacturing operations. Solid or hydrated buffers and salts that come ready-to-dispense in single-use bags and buffer preparation using single-use systems, reactors, and in-line dilution can both help eliminate or reduce weigh and dispense operations.
The modularity of single-use systems allows site-specific and process-specific solutions to be implemented quickly without requiring significant capital expenditure. Single-use raw material delivery systems, in powder or liquid form, can help reduce the risk of contamination and minimize the need for frequent cleaning steps. Raw material quality control (QC) testing can also be reduced or eliminated by implementing single-use technologies, saving time from reduced process steps as well as labor costs.
The increase in titers and the trend toward continuous biomanufacturing will lead to increased demand in buffer volumes and prep times. To address this gap, strategies for improving mAb manufacturing productivity by optimizing powder and liquid buffer and media prep process flow are worth considering. When combined with innovative new technologies such as in-line dilution, single-use powder and liquid formulations can help reduce facility footprint, labor hours, and the overall cost of goods.