Considered to be the main concept when it comes to the pre-commercial production of biopharmaceutical products, single-use processing systems are, as their name suggests, meant to be used only once. The success of some single-use bioprocessing systems’ manufacturers is attributed to the simple nature of single use as well as the growing tendency to use high quality polymer materials. The growing demand for single use bioprocessing products is also driven by the need for reduced floor space, increased cost efficiency and a reduced product cross-contamination risk.
Some organisations have no option but to turn to single-use bioprocessing products due to a lack of potential options under development, the expiry of the patent for blockbuster molecules and a growing demand for single use bioprocessing products in the field of pharmaceuticals. The growing prominence of these technologies is fuelled by custom assay development services and a number of important associated benefits, including:
Single-Use Bioprocessing Systems Help Reduce Costs
When it comes to the cleaning, maintenance and sterilisation of bioreactor systems made of steel, the use of single-use bioprocessing products lowers costs. This is an important factor. The reduction of the initial capital and Research and Development costs in the production process explains the continuous growth of the demand for single use bioprocessing products.
Increased Productivity
The elimination of the need for sterilisation in the manufacturing process thanks to the adoption of single-use bioprocessing technologies helps boost productivity levels by reducing manufacturing costs and the complexity of process automation. Furthermore, single-use technologies with their reduced cost of chemicals and water, in comparison to stainless steel based systems, make full scale manufacturing possible.
Single Use Systems Help Save Time
Saving floor space and boosting the speed of manufacturing processes are some of the main reasons behind the development of single-use bioprocessing products. The time that workers spend on validation, preparation, documentation and set up, is, as such, reduced. By making the production of different drugs in one facility, through multi-drug facilities, single-use bioreactors have brought about a new level of flexibility.
Single-use Technologies Are Easy To Dispose Of
Single-use bioprocessing technologies are easier and safer to clean; this being the main distinguishing factor between them and traditional options. On top of this, compared to stainless steel reactors, the use of these technologies eliminates the risk of cross contamination from one batch to another. Products used in the manufacturing process can be thrown away once they have been used, as they are disposable, eliminating the need for a sanitation process.
Reduced Consumption Of Energy And Water
The demand and consumption of energy and water in the manufacturing process is reduced when single-use bioprocessing systems are used. Lees water and energy are needed to clean the equipment used for manufacturing as these products are disposable.
Minimal Cross-Contamination Risk
A huge investment on bioprocessing components and cross-contamination are two of the most prominent problems faced by bio-manufacturers. Both of these problems are easily solved by the adoption of single-use bioprocessing technologies. Biologic, microbial and cross-contamination are the three main types of contamination that may occur during bioprocessing. By increasing the number of purification steps, unwanted contamination could decrease productivity. The risk of cross-contamination is substantially reduced in single use bioprocessing thanks to the complete replacement of products at the end of each batch production run.