418 results on '"Koulov A"'
Search Results
52. Cover Image
- Author
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Zarei, Mostafa, primary, Wang, Peng, additional, Jonveaux, Jérôme, additional, Haller, Friedrich M., additional, Gu, Bingnan, additional, Koulov, Atanas V., additional, and Jahn, Michael, additional
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
53. Tracking the physical stability of fluorescent-labeled mAbs under physiologic in vitro conditions in human serum and PBS
- Author
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Andrew J. Racher, Roman Mathaes, Joerg Huwyler, Atanas Koulov, Joachim Schuster, Pascal Detampel, Hanns-Christian Mahler, and Susanne Joerg
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Serum ,medicine.drug_class ,Pharmaceutical Science ,02 engineering and technology ,Monoclonal antibody ,030226 pharmacology & pharmacy ,Phosphates ,Flow cytometry ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,In vivo ,Fluorescence microscope ,medicine ,Humans ,Particle Size ,Fragmentation (cell biology) ,Alexa Fluor ,medicine.diagnostic_test ,Chemistry ,Antibodies, Monoclonal ,General Medicine ,Flow Cytometry ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,In vitro ,Isoelectric point ,Microscopy, Fluorescence ,Biochemistry ,Chromatography, Gel ,Saline Solution ,0210 nano-technology ,Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions ,Biotechnology - Abstract
In recent years, the stability of biotherapeutics in vivo has received increasing attention. Assessing the stability of biotherapeutics in serum may support the selection of adequate molecule candidates. In our study, we compared the physical stability of 8 different monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and human serum. mAbs were Alexa Fluor 488-labeled and characterized with respect to fragmentation, aggregation, and proteinaceous particle formation. Samples were analyzed using size-exclusion chromatography, light obscuration, and flow imaging. In addition, novel methods such as flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy were applied. mAbs were selected based on their hydrophobicity and isoelectric point. All mAbs studied were inherently less stable in human serum as compared to PBS. Particle size and particle counts increased in serum over time. Interestingly, certain mAbs showed significant levels of fragmentation in serum but not in PBS. We conclude that PBS cannot replicate the physical stability measured in serum. The stability of labeled mAbs in human serum did not correlate with their hydrophobicity and isoelectric point . Serum stability significantly differed amongst the tested mAbs.
- Published
- 2020
54. Particle Analysis of Biotherapeutics in Human Serum Using Machine Learning
- Author
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Roman Mathaes, Hanns-Christian Mahler, Pascal Detampel, Joerg Huwyler, Joachim Schuster, Susanne Joerg, Atanas Koulov, and Kai D. Schleicher
- Subjects
Serum ,Pharmaceutical Science ,02 engineering and technology ,Machine learning ,computer.software_genre ,030226 pharmacology & pharmacy ,Machine Learning ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Microscopy ,Therapeutic Immunoglobulin ,Fluorescence microscope ,Biological fluids ,Humans ,Particle Size ,Particle analysis ,Chemistry ,business.industry ,Proteins ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,Microscopy, Fluorescence ,Particle ,Particle size ,Artificial intelligence ,0210 nano-technology ,business ,computer ,Light obscuration - Abstract
In recent years, an increasing number of studies assessed the stability of biotherapeutics in biological fluids. Such studies aim to simulate the conditions encountered in the human body and investigate the in vivo stability under in vitro conditions. However, on account of complexity of biological fluids, standard pharmaceutical methods are poorly suited to assess the stability of biotherapeutics. In this study, a fluorescent-labeled therapeutic immunoglobulin G (IgG) was analyzed for proteinaceous particles after mixing with human serum and after incubation at 37°C for 5 days. Samples were analyzed using standard pharmaceutical methods (light obscuration and dynamic imaging). Moreover, we developed a fluorescence microscopy method allowing to semiquantitatively detect IgG particles in serum. Several hundred IgG particles were detected after exposure to serum. Moreover, particle counts and particle size increased in serum over time. The results showed that an IgG may form particles on mixing with serum and novel methods such as fluorescence microscopy are required to gain insight on the stability of biotherapeutics in biological fluids. Furthermore, we showed distinct advantages of machine learning over traditional threshold-based methods by analyzing microscopy images. Machine learning allowed simplifying particles in regards to count, size, and shape.
- Published
- 2020
55. A novel protocol for in‐depth analysis of recombinant adeno‐associated virus capsid proteins using UHPLC–MS/MS
- Author
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Mostafa Zarei, Peng Wang, Jérôme Jonveaux, Friedrich M. Haller, Bingnan Gu, Atanas V. Koulov, and Michael Jahn
- Subjects
Proteomics ,Capsid ,Tandem Mass Spectrometry ,Organic Chemistry ,Capsid Proteins ,Amino Acid Sequence ,Dependovirus ,Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ,Recombinant Proteins ,Spectroscopy ,Analytical Chemistry - Abstract
In-depth characterization of the three capsid viral proteins (VPs 1, 2, and 3) of adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) is immediately needed to ensure the consistency in gene therapy products and processes. These proteins are typically present at very low concentrations in matrices containing high concentrations of excipients and salts. Thus, there is a need for convenient methods for sample preparation before proteomic analysis. The aim of this study was to meet this need by developing a fast, reliable approach for isolating VPs in a manner enabling their efficient digestion and in-depth characterization using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS).VPs from Anc80 were precipitated with different organic solvents, and the resulting precipitates were dissolved in either sodium deoxycholate (SDC) and N-dodecyl-beta-D-maltoside (DDM) or guanidine hydrochloride (Gu-HCl). The peptides obtained by the following enzymatic digestion by either trypsin or Asp-N were analyzed using LC-MS/MS.We found that precipitation with chloroform/methanol/water results in fast, efficient preparation of VP samples, allowing 100% and 99.2% amino acid sequence coverage of VP1 for trypsin and Asp-N digestion, respectively. This also allowed complete sequence confirmation of VP1, VP2, and VP3 of Anc80, as well as characterization of the amino acid sequences of the N- and C-terminal regions of each VP, together with their post-translational modifications (PTMs).The presented method enables fast, reliable, and relatively cheap sample preparation for identifying AAV serotypes and characterizing the heterogeneity of capsid viral proteins, including their PTMs.
- Published
- 2022
56. Sustainable environmental management of marine regions: the Black Sea case study
- Author
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Boian Koulov
- Subjects
EU marine regions ,environmental policy ,environmental sustainability ,integrated watershedbased management ,Geography (General) ,G1-922 - Abstract
The EU Marine Strategy Directive (2008/56/EC) proposes four marine regions as a political geographic framework for implementation of the Community's environmental policy. This study critically analyzes the state-based approach, which the Directive uses to outline the regions' boundaries. It suggests that environmental sustainability of marine odies strongly depends on the geographic congruence between their watersheds and the borders of the respective environmental management system, i.e., marine regions have to be environmentally managed within their watersheds. The proposed watershed-based approach also takes into consideration all elements – water, land, and air – of marine regions, which is a conditio sine qua non for their integrated and sustainable management. In the case of the Black Sea region in particular, the borders of a watershed-based environmental management system include a much wider set of stakeholder countries and enable a higher level of environmental cooperation among them.
- Published
- 2012
57. Održivo upravljanje okolišem u marinskim područjima: primjer Crnog mora
- Author
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Boian Koulov
- Subjects
Geography (General) ,G1-922 - Abstract
Direktiva marinske strategije Europske unije (2008/56/EC) predlaže četiri marinska područja kao političko geografski okvir za primjenu politike o zaštiti okoliša u Europskoj uniji. Ovaj rad kritički analizira pristup koji se temelji na državnim granicama, a kojim se Direktiva koristi za određivanje granica regija. Autor također smatra da održivost okoliša u marinskim područjima uvelike ovisi o geografskom podudaranju između pojedinih sljevova i granicama njihovih sustava upravljanja okolišem, tj. okolišem u marinskim područjima treba upravljati unutar njihovih sljevova. Predloženi pristup koji se temelji na granicama sljevova također u obzir uzima sve elemente marinskih sustava (voda, zemlja i zrak), koji su conditio sine qua non za integralno i održivo upravljanje. Crno more je dobar primjer u kojem sustav upravljanja okolišem koji je određen granicama slijeva uključuje puno veći broj zemalja dionika te omogućuje višu razinu suradnje među zemljama vezano uz upravljanje okolišem.
- Published
- 2012
58. An Interlaboratory Comparison on the Characterization of a Sub-micrometer Polydisperse Particle Dispersion
- Author
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Franziska Schleinzer, Dennis T. Yang, Dean C. Ripple, Nazar Filonov, Pascal Chalus, Tapan K. Das, Kurt D. Benkstein, Ashwinkumar A. Bhirde, Stefan Romeijn, Fook Chiong Cheong, Sambit R. Kar, Laura A. Philips, Christine Probst, Adam D. Grabarek, Nicole S. Gill, Maciej Jarzebski, Yoen Joo Kim, David L. Duewer, Miguel Saggu, Andrew D. Hollingsworth, Gurusamy Balakrishnan, Judith Hadley, Vikram Kestens, Yannic Ramaye, Anja Matter, Wesley W. Howard, Theodore W. Randolph, Ngoc Do, Jan Kuba Tatarkiewicz, David G. Grier, Heather Anne Wright, Patrick Garidel, Atanas Koulov, Wim Jiskoot, Jared R. Snell, and Harshit Khasa
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Measurement variability ,Materials science ,Intralaboratory ,High variability ,Pharmaceutical Science ,Article ,Characterization (materials science) ,Sub micrometer ,Range (statistics) ,Particle ,Statistical dispersion ,Particle Size ,Biological system ,Laboratories ,Software - Abstract
The measurement of polydisperse protein aggregates and particles in biotherapeutics remains a challenge, especially for particles with diameters of ≈ 1 µm and below (sub-micrometer). This paper describes an interlaboratory comparison with the goal of assessing the measurement variability for the characterization of a sub-micrometer polydisperse particle dispersion composed of five sub-populations of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and silica beads. The study included 20 participating laboratories from industry, academia, and government, and a variety of state-of-the-art particle-counting instruments. The received datasets were organized by instrument class to enable comparison of intralaboratory and interlaboratory performance. The main findings included high variability between datasets from different laboratories, with coefficients of variation from 13 % to 189 %. Intralaboratory variability was, on average, 37 % of the interlaboratory variability for an instrument class and particle sub-population. Drop-offs at either end of the size range and poor agreement on maximum counts of particle sub-populations were noted. The mean distributions from an instrument class, however, showed the size-coverage range for that class. The study shows that a poly-disperse sample can be used to assess performance capabilities of an instrument set-up (including hardware, software, and user settings) and provides guidance for the development of polydisperse reference materials.
- Published
- 2021
59. standardized methodology to support particle investigations and classification in biopharmaceutical parenteral products
- Author
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Eric Vernooij, Valerie Rautureau, Atanas Koulov, Mitsutaka Shiraski, Alex Artau, and Scott Ewan
- Published
- 2021
60. A novel protocol for in‐depth analysis of recombinant adeno‐associated virus capsid proteins using UHPLC–MS/MS
- Author
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Zarei, Mostafa, primary, Wang, Peng, additional, Jonveaux, Jérôme, additional, Haller, Friedrich M., additional, Gu, Bingnan, additional, Koulov, Atanas V., additional, and Jahn, Michael, additional
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
61. Digital Marketing of Bulgarian Natural Heritage for Tourism and Recreation
- Author
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Mitova, Radenka, primary, Borisova, Bilyana, additional, and Koulov, Boian, additional
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
62. Contemporary Status of Small Towns in Bulgaria
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Chavdar Mladenov and Boian Koulov
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education.field_of_study ,Geospatial analysis ,Geography ,Work (electrical) ,Human settlement ,parasitic diseases ,Population ,Regional science ,Rural area ,education ,computer.software_genre ,computer - Abstract
The main goal of this work is to study the role that Bulgaria’s small towns play in the development of its rural regions. It posits that small towns should serve as administrative and socio-economic transmissions in their interrelations with the rural regions, acting as focal points of population and functions with the goal of closer territorial integration and creation of active, self-sustainable rural regions. Critical historic, geographic, demographic, and comparative analyses are used to test the above hypothesis, assess and forecast the changes in the characteristics of settlements and regions, and provide recommendations, in support of science-based geospatial policy-making in Bulgaria. In addition to stressing some methodological and data deficiencies, the results point to the conclusion that the majority of the small towns in Bulgaria do not have the necessary capacity to fulfil their role as development ‘transmissions’ for the country’s rural areas. Policy changes have been offered.
- Published
- 2021
63. Comparing Physical Container Closure Integrity Test Methods and Artificial Leak Methodologies
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Atanas Koulov, Hanns-Christian Mahler, Sarah S. Peláez, Christoph Herdlitschka, Anja Matter, Matthias Kahl, Satish K. Singh, Oliver Germershaus, Toni Wertli, Martina Widmer, and Roman Mathaes
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Quality Control ,Leak ,Vacuum ,Computer science ,Pharmaceutical Science ,02 engineering and technology ,030226 pharmacology & pharmacy ,Capillary leak ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Acceptance testing ,Materials Testing ,Critical to quality ,Sensitivity (control systems) ,Drug Packaging ,Lasers ,Models, Theoretical ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,Reliability engineering ,Pharmaceutical Preparations ,Closure (computer programming) ,Container (abstract data type) ,Glass ,Drug Contamination ,0210 nano-technology ,Body orifice - Abstract
The sterility of drug products intended for parenteral administration is a critical quality attribute (CQA) because it serves to ensure patient safety, and is thus a key requirement by health authorities. Whilst sterility testing is a probabilistic test, the assurance of sterility is a holistic concept including adequate design of manufacturing facilities, process performance, and product design. Container closure integrity testing (CCIT) is necessary to confirm the integrity of a container closure system (CCS), until the end of a products’s shelf life. The new and revised United States Pharmacopeia (USP) informational chapter is a comprehensive guidance on CCI. Nevertheless, practical considerations including the choice of CCIT methods, the acceptance criteria, or the positive control samples (artificial leaks) must be addressed by the pharmaceutical manufacturer. This study is the first to provide a systematic comparison of four commonly used physical CCIT (pCCIT) methods [Helium (He) leak, vacuum decay, laser-based headspace analysis (HSA), and dye ingress] and four commonly used modes of creating artificial leaks (laser-drilled micro holes, copper wire introduced leaks, and two types of capillary leaks). The results from these experiments provide comprehensive data to allow a direct comparison of the capabilities of the individual methods. The results confirmed that the He leak detection method, which is considered the “gold-standard” for pCCIT regarding method sensitivity, indeed demonstrates the highest detection sensitivity (lowest detection limit). In comparison to the dye ingress method, HSA and vacuum decay, also demonstrated better detection sensitivity in our study. Capillary leaks with orifice diameter (capillary leak with flow according to an ideal orifice) and micro holes yielded similar leak rates, whereas capillaries with nominal diameters yielded significantly lower leak rates. In conclusion, method sensitivity cannot be compared by means of a leak diameter, but requires the consideration of multiple impacting factors (e.g. path length, uniformity).
- Published
- 2019
64. Aggregation of human recombinant monoclonal antibodies influences the capacity of dendritic cells to stimulate adaptive T-cell responses in vitro.
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Verena Rombach-Riegraf, Anette C Karle, Babette Wolf, Laetitia Sordé, Stephan Koepke, Sascha Gottlieb, Jennifer Krieg, Marie-Claude Djidja, Aida Baban, Sebastian Spindeldreher, Atanas V Koulov, and Andrea Kiessling
- Subjects
Medicine ,Science - Abstract
Subvisible proteinaceous particles which are present in all therapeutic protein formulations are in the focus of intense discussions between health authorities, academics and biopharmaceutical companies in the context of concerns that such particles could promote unwanted immunogenicity via anti-drug antibody formation. In order to provide further understanding of the subject, this study closely examines the specific biological effects proteinaceous particles may exert on dendritic cells (DCs) as the most efficient antigen-presenting cell population crucial for the initiation of the adaptive immune response. Two different model IgG antibodies were subjected to three different types of exaggerated physical stress to generate subvisible particles in far greater concentrations than the ones typical for the currently marketed biotherapeutical antibodies. The aggregated samples were used in in vitro biological assays in order to interrogate the early DC-driven events that initiate CD4 T-cell dependent humoral adaptive immune responses--peptide presentation capacity and co-stimulatory activity of DCs. Most importantly, antigen presentation was addressed with a unique approach called MHC-associated Peptide Proteomics (MAPPs), which allows for identifying the sequences of HLA-DR associated peptides directly from human dendritic cells. The experiments demonstrated that highly aggregated solutions of two model mAbs generated under controlled conditions can induce activation of human monocyte-derived DCs as indicated by upregulation of typical maturation markers including co-stimulatory molecules necessary for CD4 T-cell activation. Additional data suggest that highly aggregated proteins could induce in vitro T-cell responses. Intriguingly, strong aggregation-mediated changes in the pattern and quantity of antigen-derived HLA-DR associated peptides presented on DCs were observed, indicating a change in protein processing and presentation. Increasing the amounts of subvisible proteinaceous particles correlated very well with the pronounced increase in the peptide number and clusters presented in the context of class II HLA-DR molecules, suggesting a major involvement of a mass-action mechanism of altering the presentation.
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- 2014
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
65. 4-Hydroxynonenal is An Oxidative Degradation Product of Polysorbate 80
- Author
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Hanns-Christian Mahler, Ariane Schröter, Michael Jahn, Atanas Koulov, and Jörg Huwyler
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Antioxidant ,medicine.medical_treatment ,Linoleic acid ,Polysorbates ,Pharmaceutical Science ,02 engineering and technology ,medicine.disease_cause ,030226 pharmacology & pharmacy ,4-Hydroxynonenal ,Adduct ,03 medical and health sciences ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,0302 clinical medicine ,medicine ,Derivatization ,chemistry.chemical_classification ,Aldehydes ,Chromatography ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,Amino acid ,Oxidative Stress ,chemistry ,0210 nano-technology ,Oxidation-Reduction ,Oxidative stress ,Polyunsaturated fatty acid - Abstract
Introduction Polysorbates (PS) are used in biopharmaceuticals to stabilize therapeutic proteins. Oxidative degradation of (poly)unsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) contained in PS was shown to lead to α,β-unsaturated carbonyls. Aim The n-6-PUFA linoleic acid accounts for up to 18% of all FAs contained in multi-compendial grade PS80. 4-Hydroxynonenal (HNE) is highly reactive towards nucleophilic amino acids, potentially leading to covalent protein modifications. This study tests whether HNE may be a pharmaceutically relevant PS80 peroxidation product. Methods Since HNE was not directly detectable in the PS80 matrix by UV and MS, a new quantification method was established. After derivatization with 2,4-dinitrophenyl hydrazine (DNPH) and extraction of the formed hydrazone with a salting-out assisted liquid-liquid extraction, the HNE-DNPH adduct was analyzed by multiple reaction monitoring. Kinetic oxidation studies were conducted incubating PS80 in presence and absence of the antioxidant butylhydroxytoluene (BHT). Results HNE was confirmed as PS80 degradant in oxidatively stressed samples. BHT was shown to prevent its formation. Conclusion HNE is a detectable PS80 degradation product raising questions about the potential impact on critical quality attributes of biopharmaceuticals formulated with PS80. Addition of BHT prevented HNE formation under oxidative stress. Consequently, BHT might be a valuable additive in PS used in biopharmaceuticals.
- Published
- 2021
66. Discrimination Between Silicone Oil Droplets and Protein Aggregates in Biopharmaceuticals: A Novel Multiparametric Image Filter for Sub-visible Particles in Microflow Imaging Analysis
- Author
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Strehl, René, Rombach-Riegraf, Verena, Diez, Manuel, Egodage, Kamal, Bluemel, Markus, Jeschke, Margit, and Koulov, Atanas V.
- Published
- 2012
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
67. Particle Analysis of Biotherapeutics in Human Serum Using Machine Learning
- Author
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Schuster, Joachim, Koulov, Atanas, Mahler, Hanns-Christian, Joerg, Susanne, Huwyler, Joerg, Schleicher, Kai, Detampel, Pascal, and Mathaes, Roman
- Published
- 2020
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
68. Correction to: In Vivo Stability of Therapeutic Proteins
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Joachim Schuster, Atanas Koulov, Satish K. Singh, Roman Mathaes, Pascal Detampel, Hanns-Christian Mahler, and Joerg Huwyler
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Pharmacology ,business.industry ,In vivo ,Organic Chemistry ,Pharmacology toxicology ,Pharmaceutical Science ,Molecular Medicine ,Medicine ,Pharmacology (medical) ,Pharmacy ,business ,Biotechnology - Abstract
A manuscript version without peer-review revisions was mistakenly processed and published.
- Published
- 2020
69. Characterization of Polymeric Syringes Used for Intravitreal Injection
- Author
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Hanns-Christian Mahler, Dhananjay Jere, Atanas Koulov, Roman Mathaes, Ahmad S. Sediq, Susanne Joerg, Martin Vogt, Anja Matter, Sarah S. Peláez, Maximilian Zaeh, and Pascal Chalus
- Subjects
Potential impact ,Materials science ,Hold time ,Syringes ,Pharmaceutical Science ,02 engineering and technology ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,030226 pharmacology & pharmacy ,Vial ,Dead volume ,Silicone oil ,03 medical and health sciences ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,0302 clinical medicine ,chemistry ,Pharmaceutical Preparations ,Needles ,NEEDLE GAUGE ,Intravitreal Injections ,Silicone Oils ,0210 nano-technology ,Protein concentration ,Syringe ,Biomedical engineering - Abstract
Intravitreal (IVT) injection is currently the state of the art for drug delivery to the back of the eye. Drug Products (DP) intended for IVT injections usually pose challenges such as a very low injection volume (e.g. 50 μL) and high injection forces. DPs in vials are typically transferred and injected using disposable polymer syringes, which can feature a silicone oil (SO) coating. In our syringe in-use study, we compared dead volume, total SO content and SO layer distributions of three IVT transfer injection syringes. We assessed multiple potential impact factors such as protein concentration, needle gauge, injection speed, surfactant type and the impact of the in-use hold time on sub-visible particle (SvP) formation and injection forces. Pronounced differences were observed between the syringes regarding SvP generation. Siliconized syringes showed higher SvP counts as compared to non-siliconized syringes. In some cases injection forces exceeded 20 N, which caused needles to burst off during injection. The syringes also showed relevant differences in total SO content and dead volume. In conclusion, specific consideration in the selection of an adequate transfer injection syringe are required. This includes extensive testing and characterization under intended and potential in-use conditions and the development of in-use handling procedures.
- Published
- 2020
70. Measuring Lipolytic Activity to Support Process Improvements to Manage Lipase-Mediated Polysorbate Degradation
- Author
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Hanns-Christian Mahler, Filip Maciej Fedorowicz, Andreas Zerr, Finn Brigger, Michael Jahn, and Atanas Koulov
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Swine ,Lipolysis ,Pharmaceutical Science ,Polysorbates ,02 engineering and technology ,030226 pharmacology & pharmacy ,03 medical and health sciences ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Hydrolysis ,0302 clinical medicine ,medicine ,Animals ,Pharmacology (medical) ,Lipase ,Pharmacology ,Polysorbate ,Chromatography ,biology ,Organic Chemistry ,Substrate (chemistry) ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,Solvent ,Orlistat ,Biopharmaceutical ,chemistry ,biology.protein ,Molecular Medicine ,0210 nano-technology ,Biotechnology ,medicine.drug - Abstract
Polysorbates are critical stabilizers in biopharmaceutical protein formulations. However, they may degrade in drug substance (DS) or drug product (DP) during storage. Degradation catalyzed by lipases present in host cell proteins (HCPs) is one suspected root cause. The purpose of this study was to develop an assay to detect lipolytic activity in biopharmaceutical DS and DP formulations. The assay is based on the hydrolysis of the lipase substrate 4-methylumbelliferyl oleate to yield the fluorescent product 4-methylumbelliferone. First, the assay components and their concentrations (buffer salts and pH, solvent and inhibitor Orlistat) were established and optimized using a model lipase (Porcine pancreatic lipase) and cell culture harvest fluid that exhibited lipolytic activity. The assay was then successfully applied and thereby qualified in protein formulations and at lipase concentrations possibly encountered in actual biopharmaceutical DS and DP formulations. The lipase assay can be used to detect lipolytic activity in intermediate and final DS, for example during process optimization in downstream purification, to better and specifically reduce the level, or deplete, lipases from HCPs. The assay is also suitable to be applied during root cause investigations related to polysorbate degradation in biopharmaceutical DP.
- Published
- 2020
71. In Vivo Stability of Therapeutic Proteins
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Hanns-Christian Mahler, Pascal Detampel, Roman Mathaes, Joachim Schuster, Satish K. Singh, Atanas Koulov, and Joerg Huwyler
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Drug ,Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ,media_common.quotation_subject ,Pharmaceutical Science ,02 engineering and technology ,Pharmacology ,030226 pharmacology & pharmacy ,Excipients ,03 medical and health sciences ,Route of administration ,0302 clinical medicine ,Drug Stability ,Pharmacokinetics ,In vivo ,Animals ,Humans ,Pharmacology (medical) ,media_common ,Chemistry ,Immunogenicity ,Organic Chemistry ,Proteins ,Therapeutic protein ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,Pharmaceutical Preparations ,Drug development ,Pharmacodynamics ,Molecular Medicine ,0210 nano-technology ,Biotechnology - Abstract
Significant efforts are made to characterize molecular liabilities and degradation of the drug substance (DS) and drug product (DP) during various product life-cycle stages. The in vivo fate of a therapeutic protein is usually only considered in terms of pharmacokinetics (PKs) and pharmacodynamics (PDs). However, the environment in the human body differs substantially from that of the matrix (formulation) of the DP and may impact on the stability of an injected therapeutic protein. Stabilizing excipients used in protein formulations are expected to undergo more rapid distribution and dissociation in vivo, compared to a protein as a highly charged macromolecule. Thus, in vivo stability may significantly differ from shelf-life stability. In vivo degradation of the therapeutic protein may alter efficacy and/or safety characteristics such as immunogenicity. Studying the stability of a therapeutic protein in the intended body compartment can de-risk drug development in early stages of development by improving the selection of better clinical lead molecules. This review assesses the considerations when aiming to evaluate the in vivo fate of a therapeutic protein by comparing the physiology of relevant human body compartments and assessing their potential implications on the stability of a therapeutic protein. Moreover, we discuss the limitations of current experimental approaches mimicking physiologic conditions, depending on the desired route of administration, such as intravenous (IV), subcutaneous (SC), intravitreal (IVT), or intrathecal (IT) administration(s). New models more closely mimicking the relevant physiologic environment and updated analytical methods are required to understand the in vivo fate of therapeutic proteins.
- Published
- 2020
72. A chaperone trap contributes to the onset of cystic fibrosis.
- Author
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Judith A Coppinger, Darren M Hutt, Abbas Razvi, Atanas V Koulov, Sandra Pankow, John R Yates, and William E Balch
- Subjects
Medicine ,Science - Abstract
Protein folding is the primary role of proteostasis network (PN) where chaperone interactions with client proteins determine the success or failure of the folding reaction in the cell. We now address how the Phe508 deletion in the NBD1 domain of the cystic fibrosis (CF) transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein responsible for cystic fibrosis (CF) impacts the binding of CFTR with cellular chaperones. We applied single ion reaction monitoring mass spectrometry (SRM-MS) to quantitatively characterize the stoichiometry of the heat shock proteins (Hsps) in CFTR folding intermediates in vivo and mapped the sites of interaction of the NBD1 domain of CFTR with Hsp90 in vitro. Unlike folding of WT-CFTR, we now demonstrate the presence of ΔF508-CFTR in a stalled folding intermediate in stoichiometric association with the core Hsps 40, 70 and 90, referred to as a 'chaperone trap'. Culturing cells at 30 C resulted in correction of ΔF508-CFTR trafficking and function, restoring the sub-stoichiometric association of core Hsps observed for WT-CFTR. These results support the interpretation that ΔF508-CFTR is restricted to a chaperone-bound folding intermediate, a state that may contribute to its loss of trafficking and increased targeting for degradation. We propose that stalled folding intermediates could define a critical proteostasis pathway branch-point(s) responsible for the loss of function in misfolding diseases as observed in CF.
- Published
- 2012
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
73. Functional amyloid--from bacteria to humans
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Fowler, Douglas M., Koulov, Atanas V., Balch, William E., and Kelly, Jeffery W.
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Glycoproteins -- Research ,Tissue engineering -- Research ,Biological sciences ,Chemistry - Abstract
Amyloid--a fibrillar, cross [beta]-sheet quaternary structure--was first discovered in the context of human disease and tissue damage, and was thought to always be detrimental to the host. Recent studies have identified amyloid fibers in bacteria, fungi, insects, invertebrates and humans that are functional. For example, human Pmel17 has important roles in the biosynthesis of the pigment melanin, and the factor XII protein of the hemostatic system is activated by amyloid. Functional amyloidogenesis in these systems requires tight regulation to avoid toxicity. A greater understanding of the diverse physiological applications of this fold has the potential to provide a fresh perspective for the treatment of amyloid diseases.
- Published
- 2007
74. Container Closure Integrity Testing of Prefilled Syringes
- Author
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Atanas Koulov, Hanns-Christian Mahler, Sarah S. Peláez, Satish K. Singh, Oliver Germershaus, Roman Mathaes, and Anja Matter
- Subjects
Polymers ,Computer science ,Cyclo olefin polymer ,Integrity testing ,Pharmaceutical Science ,Helium ,030226 pharmacology & pharmacy ,Seal (mechanical) ,Mass Spectrometry ,Injections ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Materials Testing ,Humans ,Helium mass spectrometer ,Drug Packaging ,Syringe ,Plunger ,Syringes ,Equipment Design ,Pharmaceutical Preparations ,Closure (computer programming) ,Container (abstract data type) ,030221 ophthalmology & optometry ,Glass ,Biomedical engineering - Abstract
Prefilled syringes (PFSs) are increasingly preferred over vials as container closure systems (CCSs) for injectable drug products when facilitated or self-administration is required. However, PFSs are more complex compared to CCSs consisting of vial, rubber stopper, and crimp cap. Container closure integrity (CCI) assurance and verification has been a specific challenge for PFSs as they feature several sealing areas. A comprehensive understanding of the CCS is necessary for an appropriate CCI assessment as well as for packaging development and qualification. A comprehensive CCI assessment of 6 different PFSs from 3 different manufacturers (including 1 polymeric PFS) was conducted using helium leak testing. PFS components were manipulated to systematically assess the contribution of the different sealing areas to CCI, namely rigid needle shield (RNS)/needle, RNS/tip cone, and the individual ribs of a syringe plunger. The polymeric PFS required an equilibrium measurement for accurate container closure integrity testing. The different sealing areas and a single plunger rib were shown to provide adequate CCI. Acceptable tip cap movement until the point of CCI failure was estimated. The assessment of acceptable tip cap movement demonstrated the importance of considering the RNS/tip cone seal design to ensure CCI of the PFS upon post assembly possesses and shipment.
- Published
- 2018
75. Impact of non-ideal analyte behavior on the separation of protein aggregates by asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation
- Author
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Lena Josse, Jörg Huwyler, Björn Boll, Atanas Koulov, Sophie Hochenauer, Anja Heubach, and Christof Finkler
- Subjects
Analyte ,Materials science ,Resolution (mass spectrometry) ,Osmolar Concentration ,010401 analytical chemistry ,Proteins ,Filtration and Separation ,Fractionation ,Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ,010501 environmental sciences ,Protein aggregation ,Separation principle ,01 natural sciences ,Fractionation, Field Flow ,0104 chemical sciences ,Analytical Chemistry ,Characterization (materials science) ,Physics::Fluid Dynamics ,Asymmetric flow field flow fractionation ,Protein Aggregates ,Ionic strength ,Biological system ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences - Abstract
Asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation is a valuable tool for the characterization of protein aggregates in biotechnology owing to its broad size range and unique separation principle. However, in practice asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation is non-trivial to use due to the major deviations from theory and the influence on separation by various factors that are not fully understood. Here, we report methods to assess the non-ideal effects that influence asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation separation and for the first time identify experimentally the main factors that impact it. Furthermore, we propose new approaches to minimize such non-ideal behavior, showing that by adjusting the mobile phase composition (pH and ionic strength) the resolution of asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation separation can be drastically improved. Additionally, we propose a best practice method for new proteins.
- Published
- 2018
76. Digital Marketing of Bulgarian Natural Heritage for Tourism and Recreation
- Author
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Radenka Mitova, Bilyana Borisova, and Boian Koulov
- Subjects
Geography, Planning and Development ,TJ807-830 ,Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law ,TD194-195 ,Renewable energy sources ,Heritage-based tourism and recreation ,Natural heritage ,Ecosystem services ,GE1-350 ,benchmarking ,Marketing ,Recreation ,natural heritage sites ,heritage-based tourism and recreation ,ecosystem services ,branding ,Environmental effects of industries and plants ,Digital marketing ,Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment ,business.industry ,Depreciation ,Corporate governance ,Natural heritage sites ,Benchmarking ,Branding ,Variety (cybernetics) ,Environmental sciences ,business ,Tourism - Abstract
The need for a closer and enhanced connection with nature, as the basis for human wellbeing, reinforces the importance of natural heritage governance, including wider and much improved access to information about nature-based tourism and recreation. This research seeks to reveal how Internet content can support the digital identification of nature sites and their branding as tourist destinations. To this end, it analyzes 20 exemplary websites, each known around the world, and highlights important current trends in the structuring and attractiveness of the information provided. Based on the devised benchmarking criteria, the study develops a benchmarking approach that improves digital “packaging” and marketing of natural heritage for the purposes of tourism, recreation, leisure, and sports, and then tests it in Bulgaria. The procedure includes the selection of 57 natural heritage sites and rating the content of their official websites. The results show an unsatisfactory level of representation of the heritage value of the Bulgarian NH and a severe depreciation of the provision of the necessary tourism and recreation information, in comparison to the selected global benchmark. Besides the outline of the most frequent gaps and shortcomings, the results provide managers with suggestions about the development of a “natural heritage” brand for tourism and recreation, which features amplification of site identity and messaging, plus enhancement of its visibility. The conclusions are applicable to a wide variety of geographical contexts and audiences in nature-based destination governance.
- Published
- 2021
77. Apoptosis of human breast carcinoma cells in the presence of disialosyl gangliosides: II. Treatment of SKBR3 cells with GD3 and GD1b gangliosides
- Author
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Ma, Rui, Koulov, Atanas, Moulton, Christopher, Basu, Manju, Banerjee, Sipra, Goodson, Holly, and Basu, Subhash
- Published
- 2003
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
78. Characterization of Aggregates and Particles Using Emerging Techniques
- Author
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Zhao, Hui, primary, Diez, Manuel, additional, Koulov, Atanas, additional, Bozova, Mariola, additional, Bluemel, Markus, additional, and Forrer, Kurt, additional
- Published
- 2012
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
79. Functional amyloid formation within mammalian tissue.
- Author
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Douglas M Fowler, Atanas V Koulov, Christelle Alory-Jost, Michael S Marks, William E Balch, and Jeffery W Kelly
- Subjects
Biology (General) ,QH301-705.5 - Abstract
Amyloid is a generally insoluble, fibrous cross-beta sheet protein aggregate. The process of amyloidogenesis is associated with a variety of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer, Parkinson, and Huntington disease. We report the discovery of an unprecedented functional mammalian amyloid structure generated by the protein Pmel17. This discovery demonstrates that amyloid is a fundamental nonpathological protein fold utilized by organisms from bacteria to humans. We have found that Pmel17 amyloid templates and accelerates the covalent polymerization of reactive small molecules into melanin-a critically important biopolymer that protects against a broad range of cytotoxic insults including UV and oxidative damage. Pmel17 amyloid also appears to play a role in mitigating the toxicity associated with melanin formation by sequestering and minimizing diffusion of highly reactive, toxic melanin precursors out of the melanosome. Intracellular Pmel17 amyloidogenesis is carefully orchestrated by the secretory pathway, utilizing membrane sequestration and proteolytic steps to protect the cell from amyloid and amyloidogenic intermediates that can be toxic. While functional and pathological amyloid share similar structural features, critical differences in packaging and kinetics of assembly enable the usage of Pmel17 amyloid for normal function. The discovery of native Pmel17 amyloid in mammals provides key insight into the molecular basis of both melanin formation and amyloid pathology, and demonstrates that native amyloid (amyloidin) may be an ancient, evolutionarily conserved protein quaternary structure underpinning diverse pathways contributing to normal cell and tissue physiology.
- Published
- 2006
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
80. Tracking the physical stability of fluorescent-labeled mAbs under physiologic in vitro conditions in human serum and PBS
- Author
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Schuster, Joachim, primary, Mahler, Hanns-Christian, additional, Koulov, Atanas, additional, Joerg, Susanne, additional, Racher, Andy, additional, Huwyler, Joerg, additional, Detampel, Pascal, additional, and Mathaes, Roman, additional
- Published
- 2020
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
81. European Geography
- Author
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Koulov, Boian, primary and McCarthy, Linda, additional
- Published
- 2004
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
82. Chemical and Biological Folding Contribute to Temperature-Sensitive ΔF508 CFTR Trafficking
- Author
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Wang, Xiaodong, Koulov, Atanas V., Kellner, Wendy A., Riordan, John R., and Balch, William E.
- Published
- 2008
83. Stabilizing Polysorbate 20 and 80 Against Oxidative Degradation
- Author
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Atanas Koulov, Hanns-Christian Mahler, Ariane Schmidt, Michael Jahn, and Jörg Huwyler
- Subjects
Polysorbate ,Chromatography ,Antioxidant ,Chemical structure ,medicine.medical_treatment ,Hydrolysis ,Pharmaceutical Science ,Polysorbates ,02 engineering and technology ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,030226 pharmacology & pharmacy ,Peroxide ,Micelle ,Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ,Ferrous ,03 medical and health sciences ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Oxidative Stress ,0302 clinical medicine ,chemistry ,medicine ,Polysorbate 20 ,0210 nano-technology ,Oxidation-Reduction - Abstract
Polysorbates are stabilizers typically required in therapeutic protein formulations. On account of their chemical structure, polysorbates are prone to degradation, which can render a pharmaceutical product instable or incompliant. The purpose of this study was to investigate if the addition of butylhydroxytoluene (BHT) and butylhydroxyanisole (BHA) protects polysorbate 20 (PS20) and polysorbate 80 (PS80) against oxidative degradation. PS20 and PS80 solutions containing BHA, BHT—or as control without an antioxidant—were stressed by exposure to air at 40°C for 7 weeks. The following assays were performed: ferrous oxidation-xylenol orange assay, liquid chromatography coupled to UV and mass spectrometry (MS), pH measurement, liquid chromatography fluorescence micelle assay, headspace–gas chromatography coupled with MS. PS20 and PS80 solutions containing an antioxidant were found to be more stable, as demonstrated by lower peroxide levels, lower free fatty acid contents, stable pH, intact polysorbate micelle structure/composition, and less volatile degradants. PS20 and PS80 solutions containing BHT or BHA are more stable against oxidative degradation compared to nonstabilized solutions. It might be beneficial to formulate bulk polysorbate with the antioxidant(s) to ensure stabilization during all process steps.
- Published
- 2019
84. Editorial: Smart Geography: 100 Years Bulgarian Geographical Society
- Author
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Nadezhda Ilieva, Mariyana Nikolova, Boian Koulov, Kliment Naydenov, Stoyan Nedkov, and Georgi Zhelezov
- Subjects
Knowledge society ,Human geography ,Regional science ,language ,Bulgarian ,Landscape ecology ,Sustainable regional development ,Human capital ,language.human_language ,Variety (cybernetics) ,Book cover - Abstract
Geography of the twenty-first century is expected to contribute to the development of human capital and the knowledge society, to offer place-specific solutions for sustainable regional development and use of the planet’s natural and human capital. With this idea, we prepared this book which presents selected contributions from the International Conference “Smart Geography: 100 years Bulgarian Geographical Society”. They are focused on various themes related to smart spatial solution in different geographical disciplines as well as interdisciplinary studies with pronounced spatial aspect. The book illustrates the great variety of themes the contemporary geography is dealing with. Most of them have real potential to contribute by smart spatial solution to the human well-being. The examples presented in the book cover case studies from Bulgaria and many other countries worldwide.
- Published
- 2019
85. Political Change and Environmental Policy
- Author
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Boian Koulov
- Subjects
Political economy ,Political science ,Environmental policy ,Political change - Published
- 2019
86. Method to Predict Glass Vial Fogging in Lyophilized Drug Products
- Author
-
Atanas Koulov, Pascal Chalus, Cristina Grigore, Hanns-Christian Mahler, Anja Matter, Carolin Langer, Susanne Joerg, Thomas Lemazurier, Nicolas Marti, Roman Mathaes, and Satish K. Singh
- Subjects
Materials science ,Fogging ,Surface Properties ,Product layer ,Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ,Drug Compounding ,Pharmaceutical Science ,Polysorbates ,02 engineering and technology ,030226 pharmacology & pharmacy ,Vial ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Transition Temperature ,Drug Packaging ,Chromatography ,Glass Vial ,Model protein ,Serum Albumin, Bovine ,Glass container ,Models, Theoretical ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,Freeze Drying ,Pharmaceutical Preparations ,Drug product ,Glass ,0210 nano-technology ,Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions - Abstract
Glass fogging is a phenomenon occurring in lyophilized drug products and can be described as a thin product layer deposited on the inner surface of the glass container, in the area not covered by the lyo cake itself. It is often considered a cosmetic defect; however, the loss of container closure integrity is a potential consequence of the fogging’s expansion to the vial neck region, making this a potential critical defect. Thus, a method for predicting the extent of vial fogging before the actual freeze-drying is of particular interest for the pharmaceutical industry. For that reason, we evaluated a simple method (“simulated fogging”) applicable to drug product formulations in a specific container closure system. Two different vial types with different surface hydrophilicity were tested using 3 model protein formulations, comparing the simulated fogging test and the degree of fogging after actual lyophilization. The simulated fogging method could predict fogging and showed a correlation to fogging in lyophilized drug product glass vials. We observed that all formulations showed fogging in the hydrophilic vials. By contrast, hydrophobic vials prevented fogging, however, interestingly with remaining defects of so-called droplet formation. Other than extent of fogging, no additional differences of lyophilized cake properties or other product quality attributes were observed between products using the different glass vial types tested.
- Published
- 2019
87. Protein Stability and Characterization
- Author
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Atanas Koulov
- Subjects
Protein therapeutics ,Protein stability ,Quality control system ,Computer science ,business.industry ,Comparability ,Compatibility (mechanics) ,New product development ,Biochemical engineering ,Protein degradation ,Protein chemistry ,business - Abstract
Throughout the development process of protein therapeutics a broad array of analytical techniques is applied on a routine basis to measure various molecular attributes. These measurements are carried out in the context of the quality control system of the product (routine monitoring of the product quality e.g. regarding stability during long-term storage) or as various characterization studies aimed at broadening the knowledge of the molecule. All stages of product development rely on analytical support: cell line and purification development, formulation development, compatibility studies, comparability exercises and also assessment of stability during production, storage and shipping.
- Published
- 2019
88. The Demographyc Draining of Bulgaria’s Rural Area: A GIS-Aided Geospatial Analysis (1992–2017)
- Author
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Boian Koulov, Aleksandra Ravnachka, and Veselin Boyadjiev
- Subjects
Geospatial analysis ,media_common.quotation_subject ,computer.software_genre ,language.human_language ,Boundary (real estate) ,Field monitoring ,Geography ,State (polity) ,Scale (social sciences) ,language ,Regional science ,Bulgarian ,Rural area ,computer ,media_common - Abstract
The goal of this study is to diagnose the demographic situation in rural Bulgaria and analyze the impact of the last 25 years of transformations. The main proposition is that, during the post-1989 transition and its first EU membership decade, Bulgaria’s rural area expanded territorially and suffered a severe demographic depletion, which led to large and widening discrepancies between the national and local/regional scales and became one of the main factors to influence the country’s overall development for many decades to come. The study uses GIS-aided comparative analysis and assessment of local-level statistical information, and field monitoring to territorially identify and evaluate the rate and scale of the ongoing rural depopulation, as well as highlight the most vulnerable regions and pinpoint the few areas of exception. The research reveals tendencies of importance to the research and administration of the Bulgarian and EU rural regions. It concludes that Bulgaria’s EU membership has so far not been able to terminate the process of deep and continuing depopulation and the ensuing peripheralization of the vast majority of the local and regional administrative units in the country. The fact that the land state boundary and the mountainous areas are the most vulnerable parts of rural Bulgaria implies significant geostrategic consequences for EU’s sensitive southeastern outer border.
- Published
- 2019
89. Social and economic transformations in Bulgarian mountain periphery: A 1986–2014 comparative analysis
- Author
-
Koulov, Boian
- Subjects
areas with special geographic characteristics ,transition economy ,deep periphery ,development of mountain and border areas ,Bulgaria - Abstract
The goal of this study is to produce a comparative analysis of the socio-economic transformations in a typicalmountain administrative district at the NUTS 3 level since the 1989 transition to market economy in Bulgaria. Demographic and economic indicators are utilized to provide a diagnosis of the current state of affairs, but also to highlight tendencies, which are noteworthy for the investigation and administration of districts that belong to both border and mountain peripheries. The main proposition of this paper is that in the post-1989 conditions the Oblast’s “double” periphery position is severely impairing its overall development in relation to the rest of the country. The large and widening discrepancies between national and regional demographic and economic indicators point to a pronounced process of marginalization of certain areas, which necessitates the implementation of a specifically targeted development policy.
- Published
- 2018
90. CHLORIDE TRANSPORT BY AN ARTIFICIAL ANION TRANSPORTER: 251★
- Author
-
Hughes, L. K., Magro, G., Joos, J., Clare, J. P., Sisson, A. L., Koulov, A. V., Lambert, T. N., Shukla, R., Jain, M., Boon, J., Smith, B. D., Sheppard, D. N., and Davis, A. P.
- Published
- 2006
91. Entitlements to Natural Resources: Contours of Political Environmental Geography
- Author
-
Koulov, Boian
- Subjects
Entitlements to Natural Resources: Contours of Political Environmental Geography (Book) ,Books -- Book reviews ,Geography - Abstract
By TON DIETZ. 80 pp.; maps, diagrs., bibliog. Utrecht, Netherlands: International Books, 1996. $10.00 (paper), ISBN 90-5727-001-3. Entitlements to Natural Resources draws on the premise that, despite the global scope [...]
- Published
- 1997
92. STRUCTURAL BASIS FOR CFTR EXPORT FROM THE ER: S1.5
- Author
-
Gurkan, Cemal, Stagg, Scott M, Wang, Xiaodong, Koulov, Atanas, LaPointe, Paul G., Fowler, Douglas M., An, Yu, Venable, John, Riordan, John R., Yates, John R., Potter, Clint, Carragher, Bridget, and Balch, William E.
- Published
- 2005
93. Subcutaneous Injection Volume of Biopharmaceuticals—Pushing the Boundaries
- Author
-
Atanas Koulov, Susanne Joerg, Hanns-Christian Mahler, and Roman Mathaes
- Subjects
Maximum Tolerated Dose ,Injections, Subcutaneous ,Pain ,Pharmaceutical Science ,02 engineering and technology ,030226 pharmacology & pharmacy ,03 medical and health sciences ,Subcutaneous injection ,Subcutaneous Tissue ,0302 clinical medicine ,Skin Physiological Phenomena ,Injection site ,Humans ,Medicine ,Adverse effect ,Skin ,business.industry ,Antibodies, Monoclonal ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,Injection Site Reaction ,Adipose Tissue ,Pharmaceutical Preparations ,Tolerability ,Anesthesia ,Injection volume ,0210 nano-technology ,business - Abstract
Administration into the subcutaneous (SC) tissue is a typical route of delivery for therapeutic proteins, especially for frequent treatments, long-term regimens, or self-administration. It is currently believed that the maximum volume for SC injections is approximately 1.5 mL. Larger SC injection volumes are considered to be associated with injection pain and adverse events at the injection site. However, no controlled clinical studies and actual evidence exist to support this assumption. In this review, we discuss current and publically available data related to SC administration volumes. We conclude that injection volumes higher than 3.5 mL are worth exploring if required for the development of efficacious drug treatments. Studying tissue back pressure, injection site leakage, local tolerability, and injection-related adverse events, such as injection pain, should be considered for the development of higher SC injection volumes.
- Published
- 2016
94. Factors Governing the Accuracy of Subvisible Particle Counting Methods
- Author
-
Atanas Koulov, Christof Finkler, Hanns-Christian Mahler, Joerg Huwyler, Anacelia Ríos Quiroz, and Roland Schmidt
- Subjects
Light ,Computer science ,Pharmaceutical Science ,Nanotechnology ,02 engineering and technology ,030226 pharmacology & pharmacy ,Microsphere ,Protein Aggregates ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Characterization methods ,Antibodies monoclonal ,Pharmaceutical Solutions ,Particle Size ,Antibodies, Monoclonal ,Reproducibility of Results ,Serum Albumin, Bovine ,Models, Theoretical ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,Microspheres ,Characterization (materials science) ,Sample size determination ,Immunoglobulin G ,Sample Size ,Nanoparticles ,Particle ,Particle size ,Biochemical engineering ,0210 nano-technology ,Biotechnology - Abstract
A number of new techniques for subvisible particle characterization in biotechnological products have emerged in the last decade. Although the pharmaceutical community is actively using them, the current knowledge about the analytical performance of some of these tools is still inadequate to support their routine use in the development of biopharmaceuticals (especially in the case of submicron methods). With the aim of increasing this knowledge and our understanding of the most prominent techniques for subvisible particle characterization, this study reports the results of a systematic evaluation of their accuracy. Our results showed a marked overcounting effect especially for low concentrated samples and particles fragile in nature. Furthermore, we established the relative sample size distribution as the most important contributor to an instrument's performance in accuracy counting. The smaller the representation of a particle size within a solution, the more difficulty the instruments had in providing an accurate count. These findings correlate with a recent study examining the principal factors influencing the precision of the subvisible particle measurements. A more thorough understanding of the capabilities of the different particle characterization methods provided here will help guide the application of these methods and the interpretation of results in subvisible particle characterization studies.
- Published
- 2016
95. Characterization of mAb dimers reveals predominant dimer forms common in therapeutic mAbs
- Author
-
Philippe Ringler, Atanas Koulov, Volker Schnaible, Gerald Gellermann, Christof Finkler, Melissa A. Graewert, Henning Stahlberg, Jan Olaf Stracke, Friederike Plath, Arne C. Rufer, Dmitri I. Svergun, Alexandra Graff-Meyer, and Matthias E. Lauer
- Subjects
0301 basic medicine ,Chemistry ,medicine.drug_class ,Stereochemistry ,Dimer ,Immunology ,Antibodies, Monoclonal ,Protein aggregation ,Monoclonal antibody ,030226 pharmacology & pharmacy ,03 medical and health sciences ,Crystallography ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,030104 developmental biology ,0302 clinical medicine ,Antibodies monoclonal ,Covalent bond ,Report ,Immunoglobulin G ,medicine ,Humans ,Immunology and Allergy ,Hinge region ,Dimerization - Abstract
The formation of undesired high molecular weight species such as dimers is an important quality attribute for therapeutic monoclonal antibody formulations. Therefore, the thorough understanding of mAb dimerization and the detailed characterization mAb dimers is of great interest for future pharmaceutical development of therapeutic antibodies. In this work, we focused on the analyses of different mAb dimers regarding size, surface properties, chemical identity, overall structure and localization of possible dimerization sites. Dimer fractions of different mAbs were isolated to a satisfactory purity from bulk material and revealed 2 predominant overall structures, namely elongated and compact dimer forms. The elongated dimers displayed one dimerization site involving the tip of the Fab domain. Depending on the stress applied, these elongated dimers are connected either covalently or non-covalently. In contrast, the compact dimers exhibited non-covalent association. Several interaction points were detected for the compact dimers involving the hinge region or the base of the Fab domain. These results indicate that mAb dimer fractions are rather complex and may contain more than one kind of dimer. Nevertheless, the overall appearance of mAb dimers suggests the existence of 2 predominant dimeric structures, elongated and compact, which are commonly present in preparations of therapeutic mAbs.
- Published
- 2016
96. A methodological framework for mapping and assessment of ecosystem services provided by the natural heritage in Bulgaria.
- Author
-
Nedkov, Stoyan, Borisova, Bilyana, Nikolova, Mariyana, Zhiyanski, Miglena, Dimitrov, Stelian, Mitova, Radenka, Koulov, Boian, Hristova, Desislava, Prodanova, Hristina, Semerdzhieva, Lidiya, Dodev, Yonko, Ihtimanski, Ivo, and Stoyanova, Velimira
- Subjects
ECOSYSTEM services ,BIODIVERSITY ,GEODIVERSITY ,PSYCHOLOGICAL well-being ,TOURISM - Abstract
Natural heritage (NH) includes natural features that can be described as outstanding universal value at a national level. It refers to the importance of ecosystems, biodiversity, and geodiversity for their existence value, and the ecosystems can be considered as the spatial units for its mapping and assessment. The ecosystem services (ES) concept provides an appropriate basis in the form of assessment and mapping methods that enable linking the state of ecosystems with human well-being. Thus, it can be used as a platform to find solutions to the problems related to the conflicts between conservation and the use of the NH. In this paper, we aim to present the process of developing a methodological framework for mapping and assessment of ecosystem services provided by the natural heritage in Bulgaria for recreation and tourism. The conceptual framework of the ecosystem-based assessment of NH in Bulgaria is based on the assumption that the generation of NH for the needs of tourism can be presented as the linkages between the natural systems and tourism in the form of ES potential, flow, and demand. The results demonstrate that the NH can be presented as a spatial phenomenon conceptualized by the flows of benefits from ecosystems to people which contribute to human well-being. The mapping and assessment procedures are fully developed for application at a national level, while for the regional and local level, few pilot studies mark some basic foundations for further development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
97. Variance Between Different Light Obscuration and Flow Imaging Microscopy Instruments and the Impact of Instrument Calibration
- Author
-
Benjamin Zucol, Satish K. Singh, Hanns-Christian Mahler, Anja Matter, Atanas Koulov, Roman Mathaes, Helena Reinisch, and Carolin Langer
- Subjects
Materials science ,Light ,Calibration curve ,Pharmaceutical Science ,02 engineering and technology ,030226 pharmacology & pharmacy ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Optics ,Suspensions ,Microscopy ,Calibration ,Sensitivity (control systems) ,Particle Size ,Suspension (vehicle) ,business.industry ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,Silicon Dioxide ,Sizing ,Refractometry ,Pharmaceutical Preparations ,Polystyrenes ,Particle size ,0210 nano-technology ,business ,Refractive index - Abstract
Subvisible particles (SVPs) are an obligatory critical quality attribute of the product, and yet, they are found in all biopharmaceutical products intended for infusion or injection. Light obscuration (LO) is the primary pharmacopeial method used to quantify SVPs. However, the method may not be equally sensitive toward all particles that can possibly occur. Calibration of LO instruments is usually performed using polystyrene beads suspended in water. In this study, the dependence of the sizing accuracy of LO analysis was evaluated by using a calibration suspension of lower refractive index beads made of silica suspended in sucrose solution. It was demonstrated that the sizing accuracy was strongly dependent on the reference material's properties used for calibration. It was also demonstrated that flow imaging microscopy suffered from the same artifact, albeit to a smaller extent. We further tested different LO sensors and instruments. Interestingly, our results show that the sizing accuracy varied from instrument to instrument, strongly depending on the properties of the sensor. To summarize, sizing and counting accuracies were dependent on the material used for calibration and its optical properties as well as the calibration curve, the sensor, and the instrument supplier. Closer match of optical properties between calibration system and test system seems to improve the sensitivity of the measurement. The results of this study raise the following major practical implications: (1) LO and flow imaging microscopy are not truly orthogonal analytical methods, (2) while matching optimal properties of material used for calibration and test items increased sensitivity, this is of poor practical applicability given that analytes contain multiple particles, and (3) setting product-specific limits for SVPs require special considerations with regard to the data sets used.
- Published
- 2018
98. Considerations for the Use of Polysorbates in Biopharmaceuticals
- Author
-
Atanas Koulov, Maloney Kevin, Wei Liu, Alexander M. Harmon, Hanns-Christian Mahler, Dilbir S. Bindra, Ping Y Yeh, Kapil Gupta, Sandeep Yadav, Vincent Corvari, R. Matthew Fesinmeyer, Michael T. Jones, John Wang, Satish K. Singh, and Kenneth D Hinds
- Subjects
Computer science ,Drug Compounding ,Pharmacology toxicology ,Polysorbates ,Pharmaceutical Science ,02 engineering and technology ,030226 pharmacology & pharmacy ,Excipients ,03 medical and health sciences ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,0302 clinical medicine ,Drug Stability ,Animals ,Humans ,Pharmacology (medical) ,Particle Size ,Pharmacology ,Polysorbate ,Biological Products ,Protein Stability ,Hydrolysis ,Organic Chemistry ,Proteins ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,Biopharmaceutical ,chemistry ,Molecular Medicine ,Polysorbate 20 ,Biochemical engineering ,0210 nano-technology ,Oxidation-Reduction ,Biotechnology - Abstract
Polysorbates are commonly added to protein formulations and serve an important function as stabilizers. This paper reviews recent literature detailing some of the issues seen with the use of polysorbate 80 and polysorbate 20 in protein formulations. Based on this knowledge, a development strategy is proposed that leads to a control strategy for polysorbates in protein formulations. A consortium of Biopharmaceutical scientists working in the area of protein formulations, shared experiences with polysorbates as stabilizers in their formulations. Based on the authors experiences and recent published literature, a recommendation is put forth for a development strategy which will lead into the appropriate control strategy for these excipients. An appropriate control strategy may comprise one or more elements of raw material, in-process and manufacturing controls. Additionally, understanding the role, if any, polysorbates play during stability will require knowledge of the criticality of the excipient, based upon its impact on CQAs due to variations in concentration and degradation level.
- Published
- 2018
99. Towards integrated mapping and assessment of ecosystems and their services in Bulgaria: The Central Balkan case study
- Author
-
Nedkov, Stoyan, Borisova, Bilyana, Koulov, Boian, Zhiyanski, Miglena, Bratanova-Doncheva, Svetla, Nikolova, Mariyana, and Kroumova, Julia
- Subjects
0211 other engineering and technologies ,ecosystem services dysergy ,02 engineering and technology ,010501 environmental sciences ,flood regulation ,biosphere reserve ,01 natural sciences ,12. Responsible consumption ,lcsh:QH540-549.5 ,11. Sustainability ,Earth and Planetary Sciences (miscellaneous) ,Integrated assessment ,Ecosystem ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences ,Nature and Landscape Conservation ,Ecology ,National park ,business.industry ,Environmental resource management ,national park ,021107 urban & regional planning ,carbon storage ,15. Life on land ,floo ,Karlovo Municipality ,Economic valuation ,Carbon storage ,Flood regulation ,Geography ,13. Climate action ,lcsh:Ecology ,economic valuation ,business - Abstract
The aim of the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020 isto maintain and enhance ecosystem services (ES) in Europe and requires all Member States to map and assess the state of ecosystems and their services in the respective national territories. The EU-funded project ESMERALDA analyses ES mapping and assessment methods and approaches in their biophysical, social and economical perspectives, as well as their application in different case studies. The project also aims at the development of an integrated and consistent assessment framework. In Bulgaria, methodological guides for evaluation and mapping of the services provided by the nine main types of ecosystems have been prepared together with the respective proposals for their implementation in the national assessment. The Bulgarian research team analyses and tests various aspects of ecosystem services mapping and assessment, such as alternative economic assessments, multi-criteria analyses and biophysical assessment approaches, mapping challenges and local population surveys. In this paper paper, we review the ES activities in Bulgaria and present selected mapping and assessment methods tested in the Central Balkan case study area. It provides relevant examples for the implementation of integrated mapping and assessment of ecosystem services at local and regional level, where different mapping approaches and techniques are embedded within diverse policy contexts. The main goal of the study is to investigate how the assessment results can support the integration of the ecological functions of the Central Balkan National Park with the economic opportunities that it creates for the local and regional communities. A tiered approach has been used to organise the mapping and assessment exercises in the study area, in order to meet the needs for integrated ecosystem assessment and overcome the limitations of data availability. At tier 1, the study performs identification and initial ES mapping of the whole area. At tier 2, it applies economic valuation for the Municipality of Karlovo by using statistical data and the contingent valuation method. At tier 3, the investigation applies modelling methods to assess carbon storage and flood regulation on a larger scale. The results are presented in the form of maps at all levels, which use a uniform 0 to 5 assessment scale. The integrated approach presented here ensures a clear communication of the end results to the respective decision-makers.
- Published
- 2018
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
100. КОНВЕНЦИЯ ЗА ПЛАНИНСКИТЕ РЕГИОНИ В ЮГОИЗТОЧНА ЕВРОПА (БАЛКАНСКА КОНВЕНЦИЯ)
- Author
-
Zhelezov, Georgi and Koulov, Boyan
- Subjects
FOS: Earth and related environmental sciences - Abstract
The article observes the problems of the mountain regions in Southeastern Europe. The other aspect of the publication is related with review of the main researches and activities for the mountain regions in Bulgaria and Southeastern Europe. The two main European conventions for the mountain regions (Alpine and Carpathian) are also presented. Development of the convention for the mountain regions in Southeastern Europe (Balkan convention) is key problem of the study. The experience and results of Alpine and Carpathian conventions can be use for the model in the process of foundation and realization of the new convection for the mountain regions in Southeastern Europe., Problems of Geography, 2018, Vol.1-2, p. 159-164
- Published
- 2018
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
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