Hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) is a well-established technique for the separation and analysis of small polar compounds. A recently introduced widepore stationary phase expanded HILIC applications to larger molecules, such as therapeutic proteins. In this paper, we present some generic HILIC conditions adapted for a wide range of FDA and EMA approved recombinant monoclonal antibody (mAb) species and for an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC). Seven approved mAbs possessing various isoelectric point (pI) and hydrophobicity as well as a cysteine conjugated ADC were used in this study. Samples were digested by IdeS enzyme and digests were further fragmented by chemical reduction. The resulting fragments were separated by HILIC. The main benefit of HILIC was the separation of polar variants (glycovariants) in a reasonable analysis time at the protein level, which is not feasible with other chromatographic modes. Three samples were selected and chromatographic conditions were further optimized to maximize resolution. A commercial software was used to build up retention models. Experimental and predicted chromatograms showed good agreement and the average error of retention time prediction was less than 2%. Recovery of various species and sample stability under the applied conditions were also discussed.

Highlights:

• We developed UHPLC method strategy for investigation of column interchangeability using modeling software.
• The selected four stationary phases have some obvious differences in terms of surface area, coverage, carbon load and endcapping, but three of them could provide baseline separation in the same design space.
• At the end, by using DryLab LC modeling software, it was found that two of the four columns share the same working point and are robust around this condition.
• The predicted results were in good agreement with the experimental ones.

Abstract

In this era of competition quality has been given prime magnitude; failure to meet such quality allied goals produces massive shift of company in share of market. In this context pharmaceutical industry is utmost regulated industry as it is governed by authoritative regulatory bodies. “Quality could be planned and most of quality deficit arises in the way process is planned and developed”, this thought of well known quality expert Joseph Moses Juran gives foundation to the concept of quality by design (QbD). USFDA launched a pilot programme in 2005 to permit participating firms a prospect to submit chemistry, manufacturing, and controls (CMC) of NDA information representing application of QbD. Now USFDA is accelerating QbD drive by making warning to generic manufacturers from January 2013. QbD has its perspectives to contribute the drug design, development, and manufacture of high-quality drug products. In the present review basic consideration of the QbD approach, its historical background, and regulatory needs are discussed. In detail explanation of elements of QbD i.e. method intent, design of experiment, and risk assessment is given. Application of QbD to pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical processes, development and unit operation associated with it are briefly mentioned. Detail account of QbD to analytical technique is explained thoroughly by referencing examples. Commerially available chromatography optimization software, DryLab was used to perform computer simulations.

Highlights:

• New trends in chromatographic method development.
• Recent developments in chromatographic screening, modeling and knowledge management.
• Evolution of strategies for pharmaceutical method development in SFC and HPLC.
• DryLab was the first software for the modeling and simulation of reversed phase HPLC separations.
• The future outlook for improved method development algorithms and intelligent systems.