Improved Mass Accuracy and Precision for Multi-Attribute Methods Using a New Internally Calibrated High Resolution Orbitrap Mass Detector.

In the development of biotherapeutics, a thorough understanding of a molecule's product quality attributes (PQAs) and their effect on structure-function relationships and long-term stability is essential for ensuring the safety and efficacy of the product. First published in 2015, the multi-attribute method (MAM), based on LC-MS peptide mapping and automation principles, can be used to support biotherapeutic process and product development. The MAM provides simultaneous site-specific detection, identification, quantitation, and quality control monitoring of selected PQAs. In this article, a low-maintenance MAM-ready mass detector with a small footprint was evaluated for its ability to monitor PQAs on proteolytically digested proteins with high mass accuracy and precision. Optimized source parameters enable robust relative quantitation of attributes with high sensitivity and minimal in-source fragmentation. A combination of a built-in one-point mass calibration procedure prior to data acquisition and Scan-to-Scan on-the-fly mass correction allows monitoring of most peptides for at least 54 days with sub-1 ppm mass accuracies at high-resolution (180,000 at / 200). This enables the use of <3 ppm mass tolerances for peptide monitoring, supporting high method specificity and robustness. LC-MS based MAM data from this instrument compares well to data collected by earlier MAM systems and conventional HPLC profile-based drug substance release assays.