Modern Vaccine and Adjuvant Production and Characterization
Vaccine production technology has evolved from using agents produced in animal tissue, eggs, and cultures to the use of virus-like particles (VLP). Challenges remain, however, in the analysis of key parameters for all types of vaccines.
Vaccine production technology has evolved from using agents produced in animal tissue, eggs, and cultures to the use of virus-like particles (VLP). Challenges remain, however, in the analysis of key parameters for all types of vaccines. Many VLP vaccines can be characterized using techniques used for other biological drugs; however, more complex VLP vaccines offer unique analytical challenges.
Historically, vaccine adjuvant development has been empirical, involving heterogeneous particulates or multicomponent natural extracts that are difficult to analyze as well as manufacture reproducibly. Current adjuvant research places increasing emphasis on highly pure, synthetic compounds and formulation excipient analysis through physicochemical characterization.
As both vaccines and adjuvant development and production technologies have evolved, so too have the methodologies used to meet more demanding manufacturing and regulatory standards.