Flow Water Proton NMR as Contact-Free Real-Time In-Line PAT for Continuous Biomanufacturing

Performance Period: 3/1/2018 to 10/31/2019

This work develops a contact-free real-time in-line process analytical technology (PAT) for biomanufacturing. The technology, flow-wNMR, is based on the nuclear magnetic resonance signal of water. Because water is the solvent in all biomanufacturing processes, flow-wNMR has wide applicability. Flow-wNMR has no contact with the process stream, therefore probe fouling, a fundamental limitation of existing in-line PATs, is completely eliminated. The focus of this project is to integrate flow-wNMR with a continuous protein purification system — countercurrent tangential chromatography. The simplicity, flexibility, affordability and sturdiness of flow-wNMR make it easily adoptable to various floor conditions in biomanufacturing plants.