Enhanced sensitivity for cell culture media analysis (CCMA)


Featuring the SCIEX Triple Quad™ 7500 LC-MS/MS System – QTRAP® Ready

Marialuce Maldini1, Eshani Nandita2, Zuzana Demianova2
1SCIEX, Italy, 2SCIEX, USA

Abstract


Here, the demonstrated SCIEX CCMA method offers high sensitivity, selectivity, and robustness for the identification and quantification of over 110 compounds in a single analytical method in under 20 mins with a 4x signal to noise (S/N) improvement on average.

Comprehensive quantification of the components in cell culture media (CCM) is an important factor during the development phases of biotherapeutic production. More specifically, CCM undergoes consistent compositional changes as it progresses through the manufacturing process. Ensuring optimal CCM conditions as well as the overall quality of the biotherapeutic has driven the need to develop analytical assays that are sensitive, accurate and robust to allow for comprehensive profiling of CCM components. Researchers performing this analysis can desire to quantify over 110 analytes from various compound classes. Given the wide range of polarities and separation properties of such compounds, it can be challenging to have a single method that can perform this analysis. This is especially true for lower MW, high polarity and low-level target compounds. Thus, a highly sensitive method is required to ensure that the necessary limits of quantification are met and a thorough analysis of targets in CCM is achieved.

Conventional platforms such as biosensor-analyzer, NMR, and Raman spectroscopy are typically unable to offer a singleplatform qualitative and quantitative method for CCMA in matrix with high sensitivity, selectivity and throughput. In comparison, SCIEX CCMA methods for triple quadrupole and high resolution QTOF systems offer high sensitivity, selectivity, and robustness for the identification and quantification of over 110 compounds in a single analytical method in under 20 mins.

Herein, a highly sensitive and comprehensive CCMA method on the SCIEX Triple Quad 7500 System coupled to the ExionLC™ system demonstrates S/N improvements compared to the SCIEX Triple Quad™ 6500+ LC-MS/MS System for analytical targets across various classes including amino acids, carbohydrates, vitamins, fatty acids, nucleic acids, and other essential compounds.

Key features of CCMA using SCIEX 7500 System
 

  • On average, 4-fold improvement in S/N was observed when compared to the SCIEX Triple Quad™ 6500+ LC-MS/MS System (Figure 1) for compounds in all major CCM classes including amino acids, carbohydrates, vitamins, fatty acids, and nucleic acids

  • OptiFlow® Pro Ion Source – latest generation in the Turbo V™ Ion Source family provides maximum flexibility and robustness

  • E Lens™ Technology – stronger field improves desolvation and ion collection attaining increased sensitivity

  • D Jet™ Ion Guide – improves capture and transmission of analyte ions achieving greater sensitivity

  • SCIEX OS Software – streamlined data acquisition including Scheduled MRM™ Algorithm Pro and data processing in a single piece of software

Figure 1. Demonstration of a 4-fold average S/N improvement, resulting in greater sensitivity. In a representative collection of 23 compounds, 78% of CCM compounds achieved ≥ 2-fold enhancement in S/N.