Automated microfluidic rheology system for recombinant protein characterization
Automated microfluidic rheology platform for characterizing viscosity and flow behavior of recombinant proteins using just 3–4 µL per measurement, with most sample recoverable. Combines a 24-position serial workflow with four-channel parallel measurement and robotic liquid handling to reduce hands-on time and material consumption in pharmaceutical formulation development.
Overview
The nanovisQ-Flux is an automated microfluidic rheology platform that measures the viscosity and flow behavior of recombinant proteins and pharmaceutical formulations. Building on the commercial nanovisQ-Solo viscometer, it measures samples as small as 3–4 µL in under five minutes, with most of the sample recoverable. Designed for preclinical formulation development, the platform enables screening of protein variants, constructs, concentrations, and buffer conditions with minimal material use and hands-on time.
Technical specifications
Key features:
- Microfluidic capillary viscometer measures viscosity and flow behavior across a range of shear rates
- 3–4 µL sample volume, with most of the sample recoverable
- Results in under five minutes
- 24-position platform for serial screening of proteins and conditions
- Four-channel parallel measurement for multi-sample throughput
- Robotic low-volume sample application enables unattended operation
The system integrates robotic liquid handling with quartz resonator microfluidic sensors to characterize how protein formulations behave under flow, informing lead selection and manufacturability decisions.
Technology readiness level
The core nanovisQ technology is commercially available and used in pharmaceutical laboratories. The Flux system adds automated sample loading and four-channel parallelization, currently in advanced development. Validation will be demonstrated on user-relevant proteins, concentrations, and buffers, with protocols and deployment plans delivered to early-adopter partners. After validation, the system will be ready for formulation development and bioprocess laboratories.
About QATCH Technologies
QATCH Technologies develops microfluidic instrumentation and sensor technology designed to de-risk the preclinical phase of biopharmaceutical drug development. The company’s core technology, marketed under the nanovisQ brand, utilizes microfluidic capillary viscometers on quartz resonators to characterize the viscosity and injectability of high-concentration protein formulations. This approach allows researchers to perform measurements across a wide range of shear rates using very small sample volumes—typically only 3 to 5 microliters—and obtain results within minutes, addressing challenges related to manufacturing and formulation stability at early stages of discovery.
The technology enables pharmaceutical developers to screen formulations earlier in the process, reducing the material requirements often associated with traditional testing methods. By providing precise data on how formulations behave under various shear conditions, QATCH helps teams make informed decisions regarding lead selection and manufacturability, ultimately aiming to prevent delays in delivering medicines. Based in Durham, North Carolina, and founded in 2016, the company has received multiple SBIR and STTR grants from organizations including the NIH, NIST, and NSF to support the development and commercialization of its testing platforms and services.
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