Trends & Forecasts

Measurement and characterization of binding interactions between proteins and low-molecular weight (LMW) ligands are a focus of academic research and drug discovery. Isothermal titration calorimetry directly measures heat released or absorbed in a binding event, providing means for studying protein-small molecule interactions in solution without the need for labeling or immobilization. Importantly, ITC is often utilized to characterize differences in entropic and enthalpic contributions to binding of novel ligands.

In this application note we describe the use of Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis (NTA) for size and concentration measurements of drug delivery nanoparticles. In addition, by using a fluorescently tagged drug molecule, it was possible to determine how many drug delivery nanoparticles had successfully been loaded with drug molecules.

The ability to compare concentration data across users, instruments and sites is a key requirement for many applications. Concentration repeatability and reproducibility are greatly improved with the application of the NTA concentration measurement upgrade, which has also been shown to reduce the influence of user selected capture and analysis settings on measurements. This application note describes the improvement in accuracy and precision of concentration measurements over a wide range of sample sizes, concentrations and materials.

Viscosizer TD provides automated relative viscosity measurements with high reproducibility at low viscosity, to help identify molecules with abnormally high viscosity-concentration profiles at low sample concentrations as early as possible in the development pipeline

Astronomers Chris Leigh and Mike Merrifield debate how a potential Brexit might impact UK science

Steve Bates, CEO of the British BioIndustry Association (BIA) explains why he thinks the UK bioindustry is stronger inside the European Union.

Angus Dalgleish tells us about his experience with EU regulation – and why he thinks Britain should leave the EU.

As politicians and the public argue over the minor point of the UK leaving Europe, we ask a more important question: what will a “Brexit” mean for the global pharmaceutical industry?

Intellectual property issues have suffocated many industry collaborations. And though IP is clearly valuable to pharma companies, there is also value in learning to let go.

A US coalition seeks lower prices for US prescription drugs, but could their proposals undermine the competitive market?