Virtual Learn & Connect Seminar

14:00                Dr. Jacopo Zini, Postdoctoral Researcher, Helsinki University

Innovative measurement approaches for UV-Visible spectroscopy in downstream process analysis
UV-Visible spectroscopy can enhance quality and efficiency in biopharmaceutical downstream processing, but measurement strategies must adapt to large concentration ranges (0.01–500 mg/L) and diverse product types. As we saw in our study published in collaboration with Helsinki University, single path length setups often fail during steps like capture or concentration, while complex products such as nanolipid suspensions demand additional parameters (e.g., mean diameter, loading factor). To meet these challenges, we present a multi-path length flow cell, enabling accurate and reliable measurements across varying concentrations and products.

14:30                Break

15:00                Dr. Wouter W. Woud, Senior Scientist - ExoVectory

Small-scale bioreactor cultivation of HEK293-based suspension cells increases extracellular vesicle yield  
This study explores the production of extracellular vesicles (EVs) using suspension-based HEK293 cells (Expi293F), a system that supports high-density, scalable cell culture. EVs hold tremendous promise as therapeutic delivery platforms and diagnostic tools, but the industry faces a major bottleneck in producing them at scale. To address this, we compared EV production in traditional shaker flask cultures versus a controlled 500 mL MiniBio reactor system (Applikon). While key cell culture readouts—such as total cell number, viability, and cell size—were comparable between cultivation conditions, bioreactor cultivation resulted in a significant increase in total EV yield without changing key EV characteristics such as size, morphology, and protein expression. 

15:30                Company presentations (Sponsors)

17:00                Networking, Snacks, and Drinks

19:00                End