Biotechnology industry overview

Biotechnological techniques are used in several application areas in the pharmaceutical industry and have been beneficial in producing novel drugs, improving the quality and efficiency of end products and increasing yields obtained from manufacturing processes.

Examples of some of the biotechnology application areas in the pharmaceutical industry are listed below.

• Protein engineering
  This is the use of genetic and chemical techniques to change the structure and function of a protein in order to develop a new molecule with specific properties. Characterization of the physical properties of the modified protein is an essential part of the development process. Dynamic and static light scattering are non-invasive techniques that can be used to measure the molecular size, absolute molecular weight and give information in optimizing appropriate crystallization conditions.
  

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• Monoclonal antibody technology
  Biotechnological techniques have been used to produce monoclonal antibodies in large quantities. Characterization of these antibodies is of prime importance to the pharmaceutical industry. Dynamic, static and electrophoretic light scattering techniques allow for the size, mass and charge Characterization of the antibody samples.
  
  

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• Genetic engineering
  Genetic engineering is a biotechnological technique for changing the genetic sequence of a living organism and has allowed for the possibility of correcting defective genes responsible for certain diseases. Gene therapy is the delivery of the genetic material to a patient to bring about a therapeutic response and both viral and non-viral vectors can be used for this purpose. Characterization of these vectors, both in terms of their physical size and their overall charge can be achieved with light scattering techniques. Such studies can lead to more efficient formulations of vectors for transfection studies in vivo and in vitro.
  
• Bionanotechnology
  Bionanotechnology spans the disciplines of biology, chemistry and the physical sciences. This area involves many different research topics including targeted drug delivery systems, biomolecules and self-assembly structures. Characterization of these systems in terms of their particle size and surface charge (zeta potential) in their native environments is possible using various light scattering techniques.

	Presentations:
	Frequently Asked Questions in Dynamic Light Scattering and Zeta Potential. This presentation covers the most frequently asked questions from users of the Zetasizer range for both dynamic light scattering and zeta potential measurements.
	On demand presentation on:"What affects dispersion stability and how can we predict it?". The stability of a particle dispersion is determined by the balance between repulsive and attractive forces which the particles experience as they approach one another. This presentation discusses how dispersion stability can be achieved, what factors influence it and how an understanding of these factors can be used to predict the shelf life of a product.
	Application notes:
	The Use of Zeta Potential in the Pharmaceutical Industry. Presented at "BOC Commentary" October 1999 and reprinted in "International Labmate" February 2000.
	Biotechnology: The Characterization and Use of Liposomes. Size largely determines the sites of action of liposomes. Zeta potential measurement enables the factors affecting size to be investigated.