Overview of conventional chromatography

The key to success in purification of any protein is developing the right separation strategy. This involves selecting and correctly applying a combination of separation techniques, chosen on the basis of information about the target protein and contaminants. There is no single separation technique and no single purification scheme that will allow successful purification of all types of proteins. However, there is a single approach to developing a successful purification strategy. This overview discusses the basic steps that must be taken, including selection of source material, and progression from initial "capture" stage of separation to the final polishing stage. Factors that can affect chromatographic resolution are also covered.