Home / Services / By Technology / Protein Engineering Services / Protein Characterization Service
Trusted by Leading Research & Pharma Institutions

Protein Characterization

Comprehensive biophysical and structural characterization services for therapeutic proteins, antibodies, and biologics. From primary sequence to higher-order structure analysis using 50+ validated analytical methods.

50+ Methods
cGMP Compliant
Learn More

Trusted by leading research and pharmaceutical institutions

Harvard
Pfizer
Stanford
Roche
MIT
Novartis

Characterization Suite

Multi-attribute analysis
Regulatory submission support
Expert scientific interpretation
Comprehensive documentation

Primary Structure

AA sequencing, PTM identification, disulfide mapping

Higher-Order Structure

CD, FTIR, fluorescence, NMR spectroscopy

Purity & Aggregates

SEC-MALS, DLS, AUC, CE-SDS analysis

Service Overview

Complete Characterization Suite

Multi-attribute characterization covering every aspect of your protein from molecular weight to higher-order structure.

Primary Structure

Complete amino acid sequence verification, PTM identification, and disulfide bond mapping using advanced mass spectrometry workflows.

  • Amino acid sequencing
  • PTM characterization
  • Disulfide bond mapping

Higher-Order Structure

Secondary and tertiary structure analysis by CD, FTIR, fluorescence, and NMR spectroscopy for conformational insights.

  • Far-UV & Near-UV CD
  • FTIR (ATR mode)
  • Intrinsic fluorescence

Purity & Aggregates

Size variant analysis using SEC-MALS, DLS, AUC, and CE-SDS to quantify monomers, aggregates, and fragments.

  • SEC-MALS for absolute MW
  • DLS particle sizing
  • CE-SDS analysis

Glycosylation

Comprehensive glycan profiling including glycan mapping, sialic acid analysis, and glycopeptide characterization.

  • N-glycan profiling
  • Sialic acid quantification
  • Glycopeptide mapping

Thermal Stability

DSC and DSF analysis for Tm determination and formulation stability assessment under various conditions.

  • Differential scanning calorimetry
  • Thermal shift assay
  • Formulation screening

Charge Variants

icIEF and IEX chromatography for characterization of acidic/basic variants and deamidation products.

  • Imaged capillary IEF
  • Ion exchange chromatography
  • Deamidation profiling

Ready to Characterize Your Protein?

Get expert consultation and a tailored characterization plan.

Technology Platform

State-of-the-Art Analytical Technologies

Validated methods on cutting-edge instrumentation for comprehensive protein characterization.

Mass Spectrometry

Advanced MS workflows for protein identification, characterization, and quantification.

ESI-MS MALDI-TOF LC-MS/MS

Chromatography

Multiple chromatography modes for separation and purification analysis.

SEC-MALS RP-HPLC CE-SDS

Spectroscopy

Structural analysis using circular dichroism, FTIR, and fluorescence.

CD FTIR NMR

Thermal Analysis

Thermal stability assessment for formulation development.

DSC DSF nano-DSC

Light Scattering

Absolute molecular weight and particle size characterization.

MALS DLS AUC

NMR Spectroscopy

Structure elucidation and ligand binding studies.

1D/2D NMR Structure
Specifications

Service Specifications

Detailed characterization packages tailored to your protein type and development stage.

Service Method Sample Requirement
Intact Mass Analysis ESI-MS, MALDI-TOF 10-50 μg
Peptide Mapping LC-MS/MS 50-100 μg
SEC-MALS Size Exclusion + MALS 100-200 μg
CD Spectroscopy Far-UV / Near-UV 50-100 μg
DSC Analysis Differential Scanning 200-500 μg
Glycan Analysis HPLC-FLD, LC-MS 100-200 μg
CE-SDS Capillary Electrophoresis 20-50 μg
icIEF Imaged Capillary IEF 20-50 μg

Disclaimer: Sample requirements are typical values and may vary depending on protein complexity, sample condition, and method optimization needs. Final specifications will be confirmed during project consultation.

Workflow

Streamlined Process for Quality Results

Our proven workflow ensures efficiency without compromising data quality or regulatory compliance.

1

Consultation

Expert discussion to understand your protein, goals, and regulatory requirements.

2

Sample Receipt

Secure handling with quality check and method optimization if needed.

3

Analysis

Multi-technique characterization using validated methods.

4

Data Review

Expert interpretation with cross-validation between methods.

5

Report Delivery

Comprehensive characterization report with scientific conclusions.

Applications

Supporting Biologics Development

Comprehensive characterization services for the entire development pipeline from discovery to commercialization.

Therapeutic Proteins

Cytokines, growth factors, enzymes, and fusion proteins for therapeutic development.

Antibodies

Complete CQA analysis including glycosylation, charge variants, and aggregation.

Biosimilars

Comprehensive similarity assessment with reference product.

Vaccines

Antigen characterization, VLP analysis, and adjuvant characterization.

Scientific Literature

Supporting Publications

Key publications supporting our characterization methodologies and analytical approaches.

41
Citations

Protein Chemistry Combined with Mass Spectrometry for Protein Structure Determination

Petrotchenko EV, Borchers CH | Chemical Reviews 2022

Comprehensive review of structural proteomics approaches combining protein chemistry methods with mass spectrometry.

View DOI
89
Citations

Deep Learning the Structural Determinants of Protein Biochemical Properties

Ward MD, Zimmerman MI, Meller A et al. | Nature Communications 2021

Novel deep learning approach for identifying structural features that predict protein biochemical properties.

View DOI
52
Citations

SEC-MALS for Absolute Molecular Weight Determination of Proteins

Arunkumar A, Minton KW, Ramlau J et al. | Analytical Chemistry 2020

Detailed tutorial on size-exclusion chromatography coupled with multi-angle light scattering.

View DOI
35
Citations

Analytical Techniques for Structural Characterization of Proteins

Bolje A, Gobec S | Pharmaceutics 2021

Overview of analytical methods for characterizing protein structure in solid dosage forms.

View DOI
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about our protein characterization services and methodologies.

What protein types can you characterize?
We work with a wide range of protein types including monoclonal antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), recombinant proteins, fusion proteins, biosimilars, peptide hormones, enzyme therapeutics, and membrane proteins. Our team has experience with challenging proteins including highly glycosylated proteins, multi-subunit complexes, and proteins with complex post-translational modifications.
How much protein sample do I need?
Sample requirements vary by analysis type. Generally, we request 50-200 μg of purified protein (>80% purity) for most characterizations. For challenging proteins or orthogonal testing, we may recommend additional material. We can work with lower sample amounts for preliminary studies—just contact us to discuss your specific requirements.
Do you provide regulatory-compliant documentation?
Yes. Our characterization services support regulatory submissions including IND, BLA, and marketing applications. We provide comprehensive documentation packages including method descriptions, raw data, analyzed results, and scientific interpretations. For GMP-regulated studies, we offer cGMP-compliant services with full audit trail documentation.
Can you perform comparability studies for biosimilars?
Absolutely. We specialize in biosimilar comparability studies using orthogonal analytical methods. Our package includes side-by-side characterization of your biosimilar candidate against the reference product, covering primary structure, higher-order structure, glycosylation, charge variants, aggregation, and functional assays.
What quality control measures are in place?
Every characterization includes rigorous quality controls: instrument calibration verification, method-specific positive and negative controls, reference standard comparisons, and data reproducibility checks. For critical studies, we implement cross-validation between orthogonal methods.
What are the key quality attributes you analyze?
We analyze all critical quality attributes (CQAs) including: identity and sequence verification, molecular weight and aggregates (SEC-MALS), higher-order structure (CD, FTIR), glycosylation profile, charge variant distribution (icIEF), thermal stability (DSC), and potency when required. Our approach ensures complete characterization aligned with ICH Q6B guidelines.
Can you handle glycosylation analysis?
Yes. Our glycosylation characterization services include N-glycan and O-glycan profiling, monosaccharide composition analysis, sialic acid quantification, glycopeptide mapping, and site-specific glycan analysis. We use HPLC-FLD, LC-MS/MS, and exoglycosidase digestion for complete glycan characterization.

Ready to Start Your Project?

Get a customized quote for your Protein Characterization Service project. Our experts will respond within 24 hours.

No obligation
24h response
Expert consultation