Yesenia Munoz

This research project investigates the challenges associated with high-concentration biopharmaceutical formulations, particularly antibody drugs, which are crucial for treating conditions like cancer and autoimmune diseases. These medications, while vital, face issues with protein-protein interactions that can lead to aggregation and increased viscosity, impacting manufacturing, ease of injection, drug bioavailability, and therapeutic effectiveness. Current methods are often expensive and require large protein amounts, hindering early-stage development. This project utilizes Differential Dynamic Microscopy (DDM) as a novel, image-analysis-based approach that utilizes simple video microscopy and small sample volumes to measure protein-protein interactions, aggregation, and viscosity. Preliminary results showed varying viscosities across pH levels, supporting the interpretation that solution conditions affect protein interactions in medications.