2D NMR Analysis as a Sensitive Tool for Evaluating the Higher-Order Structural Integrity of Monoclonal Antibody against COVID-19

The higher-order structure (HOS) of protein therapeutics has been confirmed as a critical quality parameter. In this study, we compared 2D (1)H-(13)C ALSOFAST-HMQC NMR spectra with immunochemical ELISA-based analysis to evaluate their sensitivity in assessing the HOS of a potent human monoclonal antibody (mAb) for the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The study confirmed that the methyl region of the 2D (1)H-(13)C NMR spectrum is sensitive to changes in the secondary and tertiary structure of the mAb, more than ELISA immunoassay. Because of its highly detailed level of characterization (i.e., many (1)H-(13)C cross-peaks are used for statistical comparability), the NMR technique also provided a more informative outcome for the product characterization of biopharmaceuticals. This NMR approach represents a powerful tool in assessing the overall higher-order structural integrity of mAb as an alternative to conventional immunoassays.