TiNET is the sixth version of titration software available for chemical analysts involved with the pharmaceutical industry.

As the need to understand bioprocesses grows, continuous online measurement using accurate and reliable analytical techniques is essential. As Richard Ahearne explains, innovative multiple task equipment is now bringing advanced process control nearer.

Various methods for application related control of vacuum are compared with regard to the value for the user. Important criteria are process time, solvent recovery rate and ease of use and handling. Modern speed controlled chemistry diaphragm pumping units with fully automatic controller offer many advantages. Dr Juergen Dirscherl reports.

Waters Corporation's latest version of QuanOptimise is an enhanced plug-in for the market leading Mass-Informatics platform (MassLynx 4.0).

The elimination of micro-organisms to the point at which they are no longer detectable in standard media culture, is a basic and essential process within the fields of pharmaceutical manufacturing, research and in health care organisations. The process within which this is carried out is sterilisation, of which there are various forms, but perhaps the most prominent of these is steam or moist heat sterilisation. Neville J. Mitchell reports.

Personal and and environmental hygiene are key healthcare issues. Here, Terry Ashenden reports how autoclaves incorporate advanced surface hygiene coating to combat surface bacterial growth.

One of the most measured chemical parameters is pH. Currently, the glass electrode is commonly used. However, especially in the food industry, risk of breakage limits the usability of glass electrodes. Based on the ISFET principle, microchip technology now enables the design of robust, glass-free pH electrodes, which enables safe, reliable pH measurement. IJcke Schaepman reports.

The direct compression excipient market is now rapidly expanding.

Adam Equipment has expanded the new range of ADAM high precision analytical and top loading balances with additional models with OIML and EC Approval.

The quality of any process control system is norammly assessed by the ability of the product produced to fulfil its intended function.

Cleaning between product batches is now faster and easier with the new ultra clean-in-place system available as an option or retrofit for M-210, M-610 and M-700 series Microfluidics Microfluidizer processors.

One of the essential steps in sample preparation prior to injection for HPLC is filtration of the sample. Filtering the sample through a syringe filter with a 0.45µm microporous membrane filter will remove particulates that can cause premature instrument failure.

Sample filtration helps to protect the various components of an HPLC system, simplifies instrument maintenance, and prolongs the life of the instrument as well as expensive analytical columns.

The accuracy and reproducibility of results are improved, since the injection port and instrument are protected by filtering.

A new business model based on an innovation centre and a capability network of third parties could help biotech companies reduce both the time and cost of getting new products to market. It is no surprise, therefore, that many companies are actively considering adopting this new strategy.

The new HTM2030 compliant Autoscope Guardian Endoscope Washer Disinfector available from Labcaire has recently undergone and passed a thorough test and evaluation from the country's leading independent test house for endoscope re-processing systems, the Hospital Infection Research Laboratory at City Hospital, Birmingham.

From Dutch researchers who are combining surface plasmon resonance imaging with microfluidics to large companies pioneering ultra fast genetic analysis techniques, efforts to understand what DNA does at a molecular level have never been more intense.

Fan Sozzi-Guo and Ursula Graf-Hausner look at the gentle transportation of cell suspensions with low pulsation using various pump systems.

Generally speaking all media/reagents entering/leaving a bioreactor must be sterile. This usually is achieved by autoclaving the liquid itself plus all the contact surfaces between the feed reservoir and the reactor.

In the cold current climate of fundraising ­ what does the dedicated biotech investor look for? Thomas Tscherning and Jesper Zeuthen report.

The need for a reliable method of tracking medical equipment has recently been highlighted by the potential exposure of patients in a UK hospital to vCJD, a rare but incurable brain disease.

Regulations and time-to-market pressures leave little room for error in the biopharm market ­ but design quality, schedule and deliverables can all be enhanced using 3D technology, says Dean Martyniak.