Scattering techniques for the characterization of biopharmaceuticals

Solution scattering techniques offer several complementary approaches for characterizing the biophysical properties and higher-order structure of protein biopharmaceuticals. These techniques can span a very broad range of concentrations and solution conditions. As such, they often play a substantial role in the development of these drugs. Here, we outline the current state of solution scattering techniques (i.e., static light scattering, dynamic light scattering, and small angle X-ray scattering) for the study of biopharmaceutical protein solutions and discuss their requirements, challenges, limitations, and strengths.