50 Optimising API Development with Bespoke Lab Vessels


Asynt, a laboratory equipment provider, collaborates with Almac Sciences, a specialist in API development and manufacturing, to create custom reactor vessels. This case study highlights the partnership’s benefits, emphasising Asynt’s lab vessels in streamlining Almac Sciences’ scale-up processes. Almac Sciences, an Almac Group member, offers integrated services for advanced intermediates and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) development, with over five decades of expertise. Recognising efficient scale-up’s significance, Almac Sciences initially engaged Asynt for benchtop-scale lab reactors (250 mL to 1,000 mL). These reactors mirror Almac Sciences’ larger plant vessels, ensuring a seamless transition to large-scale manufacturing. Richard Ward, Principal Chemist at Almac Sciences, explained: “Small-scale custom lab reactors from Asynt, combined with our modelling software, enable us to simulate and validate processes before scaling up. This approach saves time and costs, enhancing confidence in scaled-up manufacturing.”


Almac Sciences expanded, procuring larger custom lab vessels (10 to 20 L) from Asynt. These empower Almac Sciences to conduct gram-scale scale-up reactions before plant manufacturing. Richard added: “Larger custom lab vessels from Asynt allow a wide range of chemistries. Leveraging Asynt vessels and Julabo temperature control units, we model and refine processes before scaling up.” To optimise operations, Almac Sciences adopts Asynt’s ReactoMate ATOM stands, supporting larger lab vessels (5, 10, and 20 L). This user-friendly system adjusts vessel height, enhancing safety and convenience during solids charging. The collaboration enhances API development and manufacturing. Asynt’s custom lab vessels optimise process simulation, validation, and scale-up. Integration with Julabo temperature control units boosts non-GMP material production while saving time and costs. Asynt’s ReactoMate ATOM stands enhance laboratory safety and usability.


More information online: ilmt.co/PL/lZ9E 61314pr@reply-direct.com Optimising Cryopreservation for Cardiovascular Research


AMSBIO, in collaboration with the University of Strathclyde, announces a new poster detailing an extensive evaluation of the impact of three cryopreservation reagents (CELLBANKER®


1, CELLBANKER® 2, and


commonly used 10% DMSO) on vascular smooth muscle cells (vSMCs) regarding viability and proliferative capacity.


Understanding vascular remodelling in cardiovascular diseases necessitates precise single-cell analysis of vSMCs. While large-scale solutions for single-cell analysis are well-established, challenges arise when working with freshly isolated vSMCs due to their rapid deterioration and loss of native phenotype. To enhance viable cell numbers and reduce animal use, a robust cryopreservation protocol for native vSMCs becomes essential.


-CM as a coating material, to ensure robust confinement of these highly adherent, migratory cells, enabling reliable tracking of phenotypic changes in large numbers of single cells and their progeny over time. using Lipidure® as a coating material to confine single vSMC progeny long-term. CELLBANKER®


preserve freshly isolated vSMCs, allowing increased experimentation from a single tissue. Key findings highlight the remarkable advantages of CELLBANKER®


cryopreservation media. CELLBANKER®


The poster elaborates on Dr Mairi Sandison and Dr Michele Zagnoni’s innovative single-cell culture approach for tracking phenotypic heterogeneity in vSMCs, to advance our understanding of the cellular sub-populations that are drivers of disease. Their work, alongside doctoral student Ellis Smith, developed a sophisticated microwell array designed for the long-term confinement of single vSMC progeny. This approach leverages the exceptional cell-repellent properties of Lipidure®


-CM cryopreservation media were utilised to 1 significantly


improved survival rates of freshly isolated myocytes, maintaining high viability (95%) post-thaw. In comparison, DMSO-based media showed lower post-thaw viability (78%). Furthermore, CELLBANKER 1&2 outperformed DMSO-based protocols in assessing frozen primary cell growth, displaying four to five times greater cell growth after one week of culture.


Download and read the poster in full: ilmt.co/PL/dLV9 The CELLBANKER®


More information online: ilmt.co/PL/0QKk 61278pr@reply-direct.com


New ASTM Standard Ensures Reliable HPC Testing IDEXX, the global expert in water microbiology, has announced that its EasyDisc®


PCA, YEA


and R2A tests, for the for the detection of heterotrophic plate counts (HPC) in water, have been published by ASTM International as the ‘ASTM D8516-23: Standard Test Method for Quantification of Culturable Waterborne Bacteria Using a Defined Culture Medium Coated Plate’. ASTM International is an international organisation that develops and publishes standards applicable to a wide variety of industries. There are over 12,500 global ASTM standards, developed and reviewed by over 30,000 technical experts from more than 140 participating countries.


IDEXX launched EasyDisc in 2021, which is a simple solution for HPC testing, needing no agar preparation, and requiring less than one minute of hands-on time to process a sample. Post- incubation, blue colonies reduce the ambiguity of results, and colony counting is made easier by the integrated gridlines in the EasyDisc plate. With a 12-month shelf life, EasyDisc reduces the need for repetitive quality control checks and ensures that tests are ready when needed.


EasyDisc formulations cover all categories of HPC testing: PCA and YEA, which correlate with the pour plate method using plate count agar and yeast extract agar respectively, for the testing of drinking and source water; and R2A that is comparable to the pour plate method using Reasoner’s 2 agar for the testing of medical and/or pharmaceutical waters. In 2022, IDEXX expanded the EasyDisc platform with the DEV test, designed to correlate with the German Drinking Water Directive (TrinkwV), §15(1c).


This publication as a standard follows EasyDisc YEA test being validated and certified by the French standards organisation, AFNOR, with ‘NF Validation’ for the enumeration of cultural micro-organisms in water for human consumption (drinking water) under reference IDX 33/09-03/22.


EasyDisc complements other innovative water testing methods from IDEXX, which include liquid culture methods for the rapid enumeration of E. coli and coliform bacteria, as well as detection methods for enterococci, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Legionella pneumophila. More recently, IDEXX has introduced Tecta®


for fully automated water microbiology testing. More information online: ilmt.co/PL/Rebk and ilmt.co/PL/qjE4 61335pr@reply-direct.com ac24_Int. Labmate_86x254.indd 1 20.06.2023 09:23:05 INTERNATIONAL LABMATE - NOVEMBER 2023 series of cell freezing media enables the stable long-term storage of cells. With its unique formulation


which enables stable cryopreservation and high viability after freeze-thaw procedures, CELLBANKER is a trusted solution for the storage of any cell type including sensitive cell lines.


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