Host Cell Protein ELISA

Host Cell Protein ELISA is a critical analytical technique for biopharmaceutical and vaccine research and manufacturing. Cell lines used as expression systems inadvertently produce HCP proteins that can impact safety, efficacy, and quality of the final product. Although low levels of most contaminants may be inconsequential, patient safety importance requires that they be eliminated or reduced to the lowest levels to avoid problems such as adverse immune reactions. Impurities can have significant cost implications in drug development and manufacture. Failure to identify and remove these impurities early in drug development may lead to reduced drug efficacy or adverse patient reactions that could delay release or kill a promising drug candidate. Reducing contaminates to very low levels necessitate multiple purification steps that reduce product yield.

To ensure the safety of recombinant-expressed biopharmaceuticals as well as vaccines, health authorities are demanding the close monitoring of HCP impurities by applying HCP detection methods with high sensitivity and specificity.

By integrating HCP kits into their biologics manufacturing process, researchers can monitor contamination more effectively, identify and eliminate the root cause of contamination, and adhere to regulatory requirements. Moreover, HCP kits lower the risk of adverse events due to HCP impurity in patients, decrease the risk of regulatory non-compliance, and minimize the number of lots rejected due to high HCP levels.

The KRIBIOLISA Telescopic HCP ELISA approach for CHO, E. coli, Vero and HEK. While traditional generic HCP assays provide just a single antibody to capture the HCPs, KRISHGEN uses double antibody coverage to ensure a wider coverage of all HCPs in the band from smaller to larger sizes.

Thus, the enhanced telescopic angle coverage HCP approach results in host cell protein (HCP) assays that are demonstrably superior to traditional generic HCP assays by minimizing well-known limitations. This includes the possibility that single-kit anti-HCP antibodies might not comprehensively detect HCPs present in a manufacturer’s sample.

The manufacturing of each Telescopic generic HCP ELISA kit type involves the following steps:

– Immunization of rabbits using specific antigen material

– Isolation of polyclonal antibodies and purification

– Development of ready-to-use ELISA kits

The antibodies of each individual kit type will display specific reactivity towards a subset of the total protein profile and will show weak or no reactivity towards other proteins of given strain/cell line.

The proportion of proteins being recognized compared to the total protein is termed coverage.

Sensitivity: The limit of detection is defined as the lowest detectable concentration corresponding to a signal of Mean of ‘0’ standard plus 2* SD. Each kit mentions sensitivity in the datasheet.

Calibration: The Standards provided in the kit are calibrated against wide coverage of the host cell proteins which were validated with 2D gels. Comparator studies with other commercially available generic kits have also been done to check the recoveries obtained. Connect with us to obtain more papers on the same.

Recovery and Matrix Effect: The kits have been optimized at specific dilution to ensure optimal noise:signal ratios. Please do not change the dilution of samples recommended in the IFUs. For any queries, please connect with us directly.

Sample Buffer
Matrix
Pure Antigen
Added (ng/ml)
ObservedRecovery (%)
Cell Culture Supernatant0.6250.5690%
55.75115%
2022.0110%
0.1M PBS Diluent0.6250.65104%
54.8096%
2020.4102%
PoolIntra Assay %CVInter Assay %CV
Low~11.05%~8.65%
High~9.8%~9.70%

Precision: Precision is defined as the percent coefficient of variation (%CV) i.e. standard deviation divided by the mean and multiplied by 100. Assay precision was determined by both intra and inter assay reproducibility on two pools with low, medium, and high concentrations. While actual precision may vary from laboratory to laboratory and technician to technician, it is recommended that all operators achieve precision below these design goals before reporting results.

Data Reduction: We typically use linear graphs and 4PL (2nd order) as the data reduction method. Cubic spline is also recommended in our IFUs. Our typical graph shows the graph in 4PL and also indicates the R2 value with the trend line shown.

Host Cell Protein ELISA

The production process of both mAbs and viral vectors (used in gene therapy and vaccine development) involves the use of host cells, such as Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells and HEK293 or insect cells, which are genetically engineered to produce the desired antibody.

During production, the host cells produce not only the desired antibody but also a multitude of HCPs. HCPs are generated as byproducts of the cellular machinery and metabolic processes of the host cells. These HCPs can vary in composition and abundance depending on several factors, including the host cell line, culture conditions, and purification methods employed. Additionally, culture conditions, including the growth medium, temperature, and oxygen levels, can affect the metabolic activities of the host cells and consequently impact HCP generation. The stage of the production process, such as cell culture, virus propagation, and purification, can also influence HCP levels.

The presence of HCPs in mAb or viral vector products can have significant impacts on both the quality and safety of the final drug product.

In mAbs: HCPs can affect the quality of mAbs by potentially altering their stability, efficacy, and immunogenicity. Even at low concentrations, certain HCPs can bind to and modify the structure of mAbs, leading to changes in their functional properties. This can result in reduced potency or altered pharmacokinetics, impacting the therapeutic effect of the drug.

In Viral Vectors: HCPs can affect the quality of the viral vector by potentially interfering with its transduction efficiency or stability. HCP impurities can reduce the viral vector’s ability to effectively deliver genetic material to target cells, resulting in reduced gene transfer efficacy. Moreover, HCPs can impact the storage stability of viral vectors, leading to a decrease in their potency over time.

Furthermore, the presence of HCPs in mAb products raises safety concerns. HCPs can elicit immune responses in patients, potentially leading to allergic reactions or other adverse events. Additionally, HCPs can interfere with the accurate measurement of product concentration and impurity profiles, complicating the quality control process.

Require a Custom Assay?

Krishgen can develop and manufacture to your specific requirements.

Whether you require a change in the assay range or sensitivity, want an assay validated for a specific matrix or even want an novel immunoassay developed, the Krishgen team can support you. Get a free technical consultation to learn about the feasibility and timeline of your new assay.

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