Membrane chromatography – a faster alternative to resin chromatography
Antibody purification
Antibody purification often involves the use of resin chromatogra¬phy columns for capture and polishing step purifications. However, pore diffusion of proteins is severely hindered in resins, resulting in low, flow rate-dependent capacity. Current industrial practice overcomes the effects of hindered pore diffusion and long pore diffusive pathways by using oversized resin columns. Adsorptive membranes like those used in our Purexa™ line of products are not affected by hindered pore diffusion or long pore diffusive pathways; they have shorter processing times, and can be implemented with lower volumes than their resin counterparts.
Virus, mRNA, and plasmid DNA purification
This are essential for the production of delivery vectors for gene therapy and vaccines. For example, adeno-associated virus (AAV) and lentivirus (LV) are produced in cultured cells. After filtration, viral supernatant is passed through a chromatography column for capture step purification of virus from host cell nucleic acid and other impurities. Here again, hindered pore diffusion of the large virus particles leads to low capacity when resin columns are used. The same is true for purification of plasmid DNA.
