Potential uses of NIR and IR spectroscopy in quality control of allergy vaccine production.

Background: Compared to conventional methods, infrared spectroscopy offers many potential uses in quality control of vaccine production. A major advantage is that the technique is non-invasive and non-destructive. In this study several possible uses of infrared spectroscopy in the control of allergy vaccines were investigated.

Methods: Near infrared spectroscopy (NIR) was applied to determine the aluminium content in aluminium hydroxide formulations, the particle size of aluminium hydroxide, the protein adsorption level on aluminium adjuvant and the moisture content of lyophilized vaccines. Mid infrared spectroscopy (IR) was used to investigate protein structural changes during adsorption and release from aluminium hydroxide and the stability of the complex.

Results: Based on the calibration models of NIR in different applications, it was demonstrated that NIR had great advantages for application in vaccine production. IR also showed advantages on structural analysis of adsorbed proteins.

Discussion: Infrared spectroscopy as a physical, non-invasive, non-destructive method should receive more attention in vaccine research and production.