Chromatographic Methods for Quantitative Analysis of Native,Denatured, and Aggregated Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor in Solution Formulations

High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) methods were developed for evaluating stability of human recombinant basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) against denaturation and aggregation in solution formulations. Re versed-phase chromatography (RP-HPLC)-insensitive to bFGF tertiary structure-was used to measure total soluble protein; heparin affinity chromatography (HepTSK) provided quantitative analysis of native bFGF species. The folding state of bFGF was determined by fluorescence spectroscopy: Tryptophan emission, which was quenched in native protein, increased upon unfolding. Slow unfolding/refolding kinetics of bFGF in 2 M guanidine hydrochloride made possible the separation of native from denatured species by size exclusion chromatography (SEC). Although the tertiary structure affected bFGF retention times, it did not change the sample recovery by SEC. These chromatographic techniques, which quantitatively measure physical and chemical changes taking place in solution formulations, can be used in future investigations of bFGF stability.     

Kinetics of insulin aggregation in aqueous solutions upon agitation in the presence of hydrophobic surfaces.

The stability of protein-based pharmaceuticals (e.g., insulin) is important for their production, storage, and delivery. To gain an understanding of insulin's aggregation mechanism in aqueous solutions, the effects of agitation rate, interfacial interactions, and insulin concentration on the overall aggregation rate were examined. Ultraviolet absorption spectroscopy, high-performance liquid chromatography, and quasielastic light scattering analyses were used to monitor the aggregation reaction and identify intermediate species. The reaction proceeded in two stages; insulin stability was enhanced at higher concentration. Mathematical modeling of proposed kinetic schemes was employed to identify possible reaction pathways and to explain greater stability at higher insulin concentration.