Amandine Calvet

Investigating tryptophan quenching of fluorescein fluorescence under protolytic equilibrium

Fluorescein is one of most used fluorescent labels for characterizing biological systems, such as proteins, and is used in fluorescence microscopy. However, if fluorescein is to be used for quantitative measurements involving proteins then one must account for the fact that the fluorescence of fluorescein-labeled protein can be affected by the presence of intrinsic amino acids residues, such as tryptophan (Trp). There is a lack of quantitative information to explain in detail the specific processes that are involved, and this makes it difficult to evaluate quantitatively the photophysics of fluorescein-labeled proteins. To address this, we have explored the fluorescence of fluorescein in buffered solutions, in different acidic and basic conditions, and at varied concentrations of tryptophan derivatives, using steady-state absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy, combined with fluorescence lifetime measurements. Stern-Volmer analyses show the presence of static and dynamic quenching processes between fluorescein and tryptophan derivatives. Nonfluorescent complexes with low association constants (5.0-24.1 M(-1)) are observed at all pH values studied. At low pH values, however, an additional static quenching contribution by a sphere-of-action (SOA) mechanism was found. The possibility of a proton transfer mechanism being involved in the SOA static quenching, at low pH, is discussed based on the presence of the different fluorescein prototropic species. For the dynamic quenching process, the bimolecular rate constants obtained (2.5-5.3 x 10(9) M(-1)s(-1)) were close to the Debye-Smoluchowski diffusion rate constants. In the encounter controlled reaction mechanism, a photoinduced electron transfer process was applied using the reduction potentials and charges of the fluorophore and quencher, in addition to the ionic strength of the environment. The electron transfer rate constants (2.3-6.7 x 10(9) s(-1)) and the electronic coupling values (5.7-25.1 cm(-1)) for fluorescein fluorescence quenching by tryptophan derivatives in the encounter complex were then obtained and analyzed.

Rapid quantification of tryptophan and tyrosine in chemically defined cell culture media using fluorescence spectroscopy

The rapid and inexpensive analysis of the complex cell culture media used in industrial mammalian cell culture is required for quality and variance monitoring. Excitation-emission matrix (EEM) spectroscopy combined with multi-way chemometrics is a robust methodology applicable for the analysis of raw materials, media, and bioprocess broths. We have shown that the methodology can identify compositional changes and predict the efficacy of media in terms of downstream titer [1]. Here we describe how to extend the measurement methodology for the quantification of tryptophan (Trp), tyrosine (Tyr) in complex chemically defined media. The sample type is an enriched basal RDF medium in which five significant fluorophores were identified: Trp, Tyr, pyridoxine, folic acid, and riboflavin. The relatively high chromophore concentrations and compositional complexity lead to very significant matrix effects which were assessed using PARAllel FACtor analysis2 (PARAFAC2). Taking these effects into account, N-way partial least squares (NPLS) combined with a modified standard addition method was used to build calibration models capable of quantifying Trp and Tyr with errors of ∼4.5 and 5.5% respectively. This demonstrates the feasibility of using the EEM method for the rapid, quantitative analysis of Trp and Tyr in complex cell culture media with minimal sample handling as an alternative to chromatographic based methods.

A rapid fluorescence based method for the quantitative analysis of cell culture media photo-degradation.

Cell culture media are very complex chemical mixtures that are one of the most important aspects in biopharmaceutical manufacturing. The complex composition of many media leads to materials that are inherently unstable and of particular concern, is media photo-damage which can adversely affect cell culture performance. This can be significant particularly with small scale transparent bioreactors and media containers are used for process development or research. Chromatographic and/or mass spectrometry based analyses are often time-consuming and expensive for routine high-throughput media analysis particularly during scale up or development processes. Fluorescence excitation-emission matrix (EEM) spectroscopy combined with multi-way chemometrics is a robust methodology applicable for the analysis of raw materials, media, and bioprocess broths. Here we demonstrate how EEM spectroscopy was used for the rapid, quantitative analysis of media degradation caused by ambient visible light exposure. The primary degradation pathways involve riboflavin (leading to the formation of lumichrome, LmC) which also causes photo-sensitised degradation of tryptophan, which was validated using high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) measurements. The use of PARallel FACtor analysis (PARAFAC), multivariate curve resolution (MCR), and N-way partial least squares (NPLS) enabled the rapid and easy monitoring of the compositional changes in tryptophan (Trp), tyrosine (Tyr), and riboflavin (Rf) concentration caused by ambient light exposure. Excellent agreement between HPLC and EEM methods was found for the change in Trp, Rf, and LmC concentrations.

Low-content quantification in powders using Raman spectroscopy: a facile chemometric approach to sub 0.1% limits of detection.

A robust and accurate analytical methodology for low-content (<0.1%) quantification in the solid-state using Raman spectroscopy, subsampling, and chemometrics was demonstrated using a piracetam-proline model. The method involved a 5-step process: collection of a relatively large number of spectra (8410) from each sample by Raman mapping, meticulous data pretreatment to remove spectral artifacts, use of a 0-100% concentration range partial least-squares (PLS) regression model to estimate concentration at each pixel, use of a more accurate, reduced concentration range PLS model to calculate analyte concentration at each pixel, and finally statistical analysis of all 8000+ concentration predictions to produce an accurate overall sample concentration. The relative prediction accuracy was ∼2.4% for a 0.05-1.0% concentration range, and the limit of detection was comparable to high performance liquid chromatography (0.03% versus 0.041%). For data pretreatment, we developed a unique cosmic ray removal method and used an automated baseline correction method, neither of which required subjective user intervention and thus were fully automatable. The method is applicable to systems which cannot be easily analyzed chromatographically, such as hydrate, polymorph, or solvate contamination.

Monitoring cell culture media degradation using surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy

The quality of the cell culture media used in biopharmaceutical manufacturing is a crucial factor affecting bioprocess performance and the quality of the final product. Due to their complex composition these media are inherently unstable, and significant compositional variations can occur particularly when in the prepared liquid state. For example photo-degradation of cell culture media can have adverse effects on cell viability and thus process performance. There is therefore, from quality control, quality assurance and process management view points, an urgent demand for the development of rapid and inexpensive tools for the stability monitoring of these complex mixtures. Spectroscopic methods, based on fluorescence or Raman measurements, have now become viable alternatives to more time-consuming and expensive (on a unit analysis cost) chromatographic and/or mass spectrometry based methods for routine analysis of media. Here we demonstrate the application of surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy for the simple, fast, analysis of cell culture media degradation. Once stringent reproducibility controls are implemented, chemometric data analysis methods can then be used to rapidly monitor the compositional changes in chemically defined media. SERS shows clearly that even when media are stored at low temperature (2-8°C) and in the dark, significant chemical changes occur, particularly with regard to cysteine/cystine concentration.

Comprehensive, quantitative bioprocess productivity monitoring using fluorescence EEM spectroscopy and chemometrics

This study demonstrates the application of fluorescence excitation-emission matrix (EEM) spectroscopy to the quantitative predictive analysis of recombinant glycoprotein production cultured in a Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell fed-batch process. The method relies on the fact that EEM spectra of complex solutions are very sensitive to compositional change. As the cultivation progressed, changes in the emission properties of various key fluorophores (e.g., tyrosine, tryptophan, and the glycoprotein product) showed significant differences, and this was used to follow culture progress via multiple curve resolution alternating least squares (MCR-ALS). MCR-ALS clearly showed the increase in the unique dityrosine emission from the product glycoprotein as the process progressed, thus provided a qualitative tool for process monitoring. For the quantitative predictive modelling of process performance, the EEM data was first subjected to variable selection and then using the most informative variables, partial least-squares (PLS) regression was implemented for glycoprotein yield prediction. Accurate predictions with relative errors of between 2.3 and 4.6% were obtained for samples extracted from the 100 to 5000 L scale bioreactors. This study shows that the combination of EEM spectroscopy and chemometric methods of evaluation provides a convenient method for monitoring at-line or off-line the productivity of industrial fed-batch mammalian cell culture processes from the small to large scale. This method has applicability to the advancement of process consistency, early problem detection, and quality-by-design (QbD) practices.

A fluorescence anisotropy method for measuring protein concentration in complex cell culture media

The rapid, quantitative analysis of the complex cell culture media used in biopharmaceutical manufacturing is of critical importance. Requirements for cell culture media composition profiling, or changes in specific analyte concentrations (e.g. amino acids in the media or product protein in the bioprocess broth) often necessitate the use of complicated analytical methods and extensive sample handling. Rapid spectroscopic methods like multi-dimensional fluorescence (MDF) spectroscopy have been successfully applied for the routine determination of compositional changes in cell culture media and bioprocess broths. Quantifying macromolecules in cell culture media is a specific challenge as there is a need to implement measurements rapidly on the prepared media. However, the use of standard fluorescence spectroscopy is complicated by the emission overlap from many media components. Here, we demonstrate how combining anisotropy measurements with standard total synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy (TSFS) provides a rapid, accurate quantitation method for cell culture media. Anisotropy provides emission resolution between large and small fluorophores while TSFS provides a robust measurement space. Model cell culture media was prepared using yeastolate (2.5 mg mL(-1)) spiked with bovine serum albumin (0 to 5 mg mL(-1)). Using this method, protein emission is clearly discriminated from background yeastolate emission, allowing for accurate bovine serum albumin (BSA) quantification over a 0.1 to 4.0 mg mL(-1) range with a limit of detection (LOD) of 13.8 μg mL(-1).

Chemometric approaches to low-content quantification (LCQ) in solid-state mixtures using Raman mapping spectroscopy

The low-content quantification (LCQ) of active pharmaceutical ingredients or impurities in solid mixtures is important in pharmaceutical manufacturing and analysis. We previously demonstrated the feasibility of using Raman mapping of the micro-scale heterogeneity in solid-state samples combined with partial least squares (PLS) regression for LCQ in a binary system. However, PLS is limited by the need for relatively large calibration sample numbers to attain high accuracy, and a rather significant computational time requirement for processing large Raman maps. Here we evaluated alternative chemometric methods which might overcome these issues. The methods were: net analyte signal coupled with classical least squares (NAS-CLS), multivariate curve resolution (MCR), principal component analysis with CLS (PCA-CLS), and the ratio of characteristic analyte/matrix bands combined with shape-preserving piecewise cubic polynomial interpolation curve fitting (BR-PCHIP). For high (>1.0%) piracetam analyte content, all methods were accurate with relative errors of prediction (REP) of <1.1%. For LCQ (0.05–1.0% w/w), three methods were able to predict piracetam content with reasonable levels of accuracy: 6.97% (PCA-CLS), 9.13% (MCR), and 12.8% (NAS-CLS). MCR offered the best potential as a semi-quantitative screening method as it was ∼40% quicker than PLS, but was less accurate due to being more sensitive to spectral noise factors.

Quantitative Analysis of Complex Liquids using Multi-dimensional Fluorescence Spectroscopy: from Oil to Vegemite

The quantitative analysis of complex fluorescent cell culture media mixtures used in industrial biotechnology is very desirable. Here we show how multi-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy and chemometrics can be used across a complete industrial bioprocess.