Glucose and Lactate Monitoring with PTRam

Significance of the Topic

Raman spectroscopy enables non-destructive, real-time monitoring of critical components in bioprocesses such as glucose consumption and lactate production. Its inline and online capabilities support process analytical technology (PAT) initiatives, reducing time-to-result and improving process understanding.

Objectives and Study Overview

The study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of using the PTRam process development Raman analyzer for quantitative monitoring of glucose and lactate in aqueous solutions and dynamic bioprocess simulations. Calibration models were developed under static conditions, followed by a dynamic experiment emulating cell culture metabolic activity.

Methodology

Calibration: Twenty-five standards with glucose (0–4.5 g/L) and lactate (0–4.4 g/L) were prepared gravimetrically. Spectra were acquired with a 785 nm laser (340 mW) and 18 s integration time. Preprocessing included Savitzky-Golay derivatives and standard normal variate (SNV). Partial least squares (PLS) models with cross-validation were built using 3 factors.

Instrumentation Used

• BWT-840001200 PTRam Process Development Raman Analyzer (785 nm, 340 mW, 150–2800 cm⁻¹)
• Lab-grade fiber optic probe with immersible fused silica shaft (RIS100-FS)
• Vision software for acquisition, calibration, and real-time prediction
• ASTM polystyrene validation standard and self-calibration features

Main Results and Discussion

Static models achieved high linearity and accuracy with three PLS factors. Dynamic testing over 6.5 h accurately tracked the addition and consumption of glucose and lactate, closely following theoretical concentration curves. Routine predictions yielded standard errors of prediction (SEP) of 0.20 g/L for glucose and 0.12 g/L for lactate, with minimal bias.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• Real-time, inline monitoring reduces delay and manual sampling.
• Quantitative tracking of substrate depletion and metabolite accumulation supports bioprocess optimization.
• Robust performance suitable for lab and pilot-plant environments.
• Software-driven calibration and validation enhance data reliability.

Future Trends and Application Opportunities

As Raman instrumentation becomes more compact and cost-effective, integration into full-scale manufacturing will expand. Advances in multivariate algorithms and probe design may improve sensitivity and applicability to other critical quality attributes. Combining Raman with complementary sensors could enable comprehensive PAT strategies in biopharmaceutical production.

Conclusion

The PTRam Raman analyzer, coupled with Vision software, provides a reliable platform for real-time monitoring of glucose and lactate in bioprocess applications. Its performance in static calibration and dynamic simulation demonstrates its suitability for PAT-driven workflows in pharmaceutical and chemical industries.

References

• No specific literature references were provided in the source document.