--- title: "5 types of formulation excipients and how they impact biologics stability" canonical: "/5-types-of-formulation-excipients-and-how-they-impact-biologics-stability-" published: 2026-09-21 --- # 5 types of formulation excipients and how they impact biologics stability [https://nanotempertech.com/](https://nanotempertech.com/) Solutions Choose Solutions Application Products Consumables Application Products Consumables Biologics [Be confident you’re choosing the right biologics candidates.](/biologics/) Products [Prometheus](https://nanotempertech.com/prometheus-panta/) [Learn more](/biologics/) Targeted Protein Degradation [Advance your TPD and induced proximity research.](/tpd/) Products [Dianthus](https://nanotempertech.com/dianthus/) [Dianthus uHTS](https://nanotempertech.com/dianthus-uhts/) [Learn more](/tpd/) Membrane Proteins [Characterize membrane proteins in complex environments with confidence.](/membrane-protein/) Products [Monolith](https://nanotempertech.com/monolith/) [Prometheus](https://nanotempertech.com/prometheus-panta/) [Learn more](/membrane-protein/) [Protein Stability Prometheus Panta One experiment. 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Go to shop](https://shop.nanotempertech.com/)Technologies [nanoDSF](https://nanotempertech.com/nanodsf/)[Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS)](https://nanotempertech.com/dls-7/)[Static Light Scattering (SLS)](https://nanotempertech.com/sls-6/)[Backreflection](https://nanotempertech.com/backreflection/)[Spectral Shift](https://nanotempertech.com/spectral-shift/)[MicroScale Thermophoresis (MST)](https://nanotempertech.com/mst/)[Temperature Related Intensity Change (TRIC)](https://nanotempertech.com/tric/)[Resources](https://nanotempertech.com/resources/)[Support](https://nanotempertech.com/support/)[About](https://nanotempertech.com/about/)[Shop](https://shop.nanotempertech.com/) EN English汉语 EN English汉语 Search Search{results\_count} resultsDisplaying **{results\_count}** results of **{results\_count\_total}**[More results...](https://nanotempertech.com) ## 5 types of formulation excipients and how they impact biologics stability ###### Discover how simultaneous multi-parameter characterization helps formulation scientists reduce development timelines and proceed with greater confidence. For formulation development researchers looking to find buffers that stabilize early development biologic products, buffer optimization goes beyond the pH and salt concentration of the solution. Excipients are additives to buffers that go a long way towards stabilizing biologics candidates long-term, and therefore are critical components to evaluate, even in the early formulation stage of buffer optimization. Each excipient class helps stabilize biologics – from monoclonal antibodies to vaccine antigens – in different ways. Read on to learn more about some of the most important excipients for biologics, and how they provide stability to their formulation. **Know more** ### Adjuvants Adjuvants create a stronger immune response, and are important for vaccines in particular. These are often separate small molecule biologics that boost the immune response. ### Amino Acids Amino acids are a specific category of excipient used to help stabilize free charges on the protein molecules. They are a way to help reduce the cross-protein attraction between charged molecules without bringing the salt concentration as high. Amino AcidsAmino acids usually used for this work are Arginine, Proline, Glycine, Histidine, and Methionine. Arginine, Proline, and Glycine also help regulate the viscosity of the final formulation. Learn **Learn more** ### Surfactants Surfactants help reduce surface tension of a solution, making it easier for hydrophobic molecules to remain solubilized. Detergents such as polysorbate 80 or polysorbate 20 are common surfactants. ### Sugars Sugars are very helpful as conformational stabilizers for antibodies in particular. They offer cryoprotection for lyophilized products, and have beneficial effects on solvation of the biologic molecule. Sucrose is one of the most common sugars added to buffers, but mannitol, sorbitol, and trehalose are also used. ### Polyols Polyols, similar to sugars, are stabilizing molecules that enhance thermal stability of biologics. They also act as “bulking agents” to keep the overall three-dimensional structure of the protein, particularly important during drying for lyophilization. Glycerol is a very common polyol for stability enhancement; mannitol and sorbitol are also used. ### Conclusion As you’ve seen, there are many different excipient types that help enhance the long-term stability of your biologic, thereby increasing its chance of making it to the clinic. It’s worth noting – each therapeutic you build will behave differently, and it’s critical to screen many excipient types on every candidate to confirm which ones confer the most stability to your therapeutics. Careful consideration of the impact of pH, salt concentration, and other excipients will set your biologic candidates up for success – read more about formulation optimization considerations **Read more** ##### There's more to explore ###### Discover more science-led content, practical guidance, and resources to deepen your knowledge and move your research forward with confidence. **Back to resource centre** Breakthrough faster. Together. [Let's talk](https://nanotempertech.com/contact-specialist/) newsletter Get our latest publications, webinars, and case studies. [https://nanotempertech.com/](https://nanotempertech.com/) We develop biophysical tools and reagents for discovery, development, and beyond. Helping teams to breakthrough faster, together. 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