Tracking the physical stability of fluorescent-labeled mAbs under physiologic in vitro conditions in human serum and...

In recent years, the stability of biotherapeutics in vivo has received increasing attention. Assessing the stability of biotherapeutics in serum may support the selection of adequate molecule candidates. In our study, we compared the physical stability of 8 different monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and human serum. mAbs were Alexa Fluor 488-labeled and characterized with respect to fragmentation, aggregation, and proteinaceous particle formation. Samples were analyzed using size-exclusion chromatography, light obscuration, and flow imaging. In addition, novel methods such as flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy were applied. mAbs were selected based on their hydrophobicity and isoelectric point. All mAbs studied were inherently less stable in human serum as compared to PBS. Particle size and particle counts increased in serum over time. Interestingly, certain mAbs showed significant levels of fragmentation in serum but not in PBS. We conclude that PBS cannot replicate the physical stability measured in serum. The stability of labeled mAbs in human serum did not correlate with their hydrophobicity and isoelectric point . Serum stability significantly differed amongst the tested mAbs.