Intrinsic Viscosity Determination for Small Sample Volumes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies are limited in calculating the intrinsic viscosity and Huggins constant of small volumes of unknown samples, which is a challenge in pharmaceutical formulations where proteins are often generated in small volumes and low concentrations, making existing methods impractical and costly.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and system that receives concentration detector signal values and specific viscosity values from an instrument chain, calculates total mass, intermediate viscosity values, and fits these values to a function to determine the intrinsic viscosity and Huggins constant of an unknown sample, enabling calculation for small volumes via a concentration detector serially connected to a viscometer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional methods are used to calculate intrinsic viscosity and Huggins constant, then measurement precision is maintained, but the method becomes impractical and costly for small sample volumes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a concentration detector and a viscometer into a single instrument chain, allowing simultaneous measurement of concentration and viscosity data from the same small sample aliquots. This integration enables accurate intrinsic viscosity and Huggins constant determination without requiring separate measurements that would consume additional sample volume, making the method practical and cost-effective for pharmaceutical formulations with limited sample availability.
2Quantity of substance
If small volumes of unknown samples are analyzed, then sample consumption is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs continuous detection methods where the concentration detector and viscometer continuously monitor the sample as it flows through the instrument chain. This continuous measurement approach maintains high precision even with small sample volumes by collecting data points throughout the entire sample passage, rather than relying on discrete measurements that would require larger sample quantities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes feedback mechanisms where the concentration detector signal values provide real-time information about sample concentration, which is then used to adjust and interpret viscosity measurements. This feedback loop ensures that even small variations in small sample volumes are accounted for, maintaining measurement precision through dynamic compensation based on actual sample conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure describes a computer implemented method, a system, and a computer program product of determining intrinsic viscosity and Huggins constant of an unknown sample. In an embodiment, the method, system, and computer program product include receiving concentration detector signal values over time from a concentration detector corresponding to a series of aliquots of an unknown sample injected into an instrument chain, receiving specific viscosity values over time from a viscometer corresponding to the series of aliquots, calculating a total mass of each of the aliquots, calculating a first intermediate viscosity value of each of the aliquots, calculating a second intermediate viscosity value of each of the aliquots, and fitting the total mass, the first intermediate viscosity value, and the second intermediate viscosity value to a fitting, resulting in a calculated intrinsic viscosity of the unknown sample and a calculated Huggins constant of the unknown sample.