The Dynapro product range is the result of Wyatt's acquisition of Proterion/Protein Solutions Corporation in November 2004. As part of this deal Wyatt acquired the DynaPro Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) system - technology that has become familiar within the protein crystallisation market.
Light scattering is a non-invasive technique for characterising macromolecules and a wide range of particles in solution. In contrast to most methods for characterisation, it does not require outside calibration standards.
Light scattering is a technique that can be applied in either batch or chromatography mode. In either instance the sample may be recovered at the end of the measurement. Since light scattering provides the weight-averaged molar mass for all molecules in solution, it is generally more useful to utilise the chromatography mode, though each technique has its advantages.
The new DynaPro product line allows customers tools for characterising unfractionated samples via DLS. The products particularly appeal to customers doing rapid characterisation of size and polydispersity. The range incorporates the automated DynaPro Titan Plate Reader, making the technology suitable for the Bioprocessing and quality control of viral particles and vaccines, screening chemical compounds for small molecule aggregation or potential "promiscuous inhibitors" and exploring antibody formulations over a broad range of solution conditions.
The product range offers the highest sensitivity and lowest sample volumes for protein crystallisation by DLS. It comes with a unique range of features including a control module with the ability to collect and analyse data; and a read module, which comes as either a temperature-controlled scintillation vial reader for single measurements, or a fully automated plate reader with the capability to make measurements on 96 or 384 well plates.
Other features include a stand-alone self-dessicating temperature chamber for low temperature conditions, which can integrate with Wyatt's online accessories.
The DynaPro comes with software, which will be integrated, into Wyatt's 21 CFR 11-compliant ASTRA platform. The software complements Wyatt's multi-angle light scattering detectors to make absolute molecular weight determinations a desirable alternative to traditional liquid chromatography methods.
"The addition of the DynaPro products plus the DynaPro Titan Plate Reader opens up the possibility of coupling light scattering characterisation with automated robotic systems," said Geof Wyatt, president of Wyatt Technology.
The demand for light scattering instruments has grown considerably over the past few years. This has been due to advanced research in pharmaceutics and biotechnology. Most of the molecules of interest in these fields are macromolecules like proteins, hyaluronic acid and haemoglobin, not to mention nanoparticles like liposomes or viruses, which can be used as drug-delivery vehicles.