High-throughput screening and automation approaches for the development of recombinant therapeutic proteins

Generation of recombinant therapeutic proteins involves the use of Chinese hamster ovary cells as one of the workhorses for complex protein production. This process requires screening large numbers of transfected cells to identify single clones that have high protein production and drug-specific quality attributes. Traditionally, this process was limited by manual operation; however, high-throughput screening methods and automation have made this process more efficient. Implementation of high-throughput screening and automation within bioprocess development have led to increased screening capacity, higher product yields, reductions in manual operation, reduction in human error and shorter development time lines. This review outlines the high-throughput methodologies and technologies currently used for clone screening, selection and evaluation in bioprocess development.