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Updated: Feb 26, 2026
Purification and Analytics of a Monoclonal Antibody from Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells Using an Automated Microbioreactor System
Published on: May 1, 2019
Purification of monoclonal antibodies entirely in flow-through mode
Tsuyoshi Yamada1, Koichi Yamamoto2, Takashi Ishihara2
1Bio Process Research and Development Laboratories, Production Division, Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co., Ltd., Takasaki-shi, Gunma 370-0013, Japan; Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Kasumi 1-2-3, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8553, Japan.
A depth filter is widely used in biopharmaceutical manufacturing process. In this study, we found that buffer exchange to reduce conductivity dramatically improved the removal of impurities in depth filtration. The host cell protein clearance was comparable to that of protein A affinity chromatography, which is generally used as a first capture step in monoclonal antibody purification. In addition, a combination of different depth filters showed enhanced purification. Additional flow-through purification is possible without any sample preparation, and a biopharmaceutical-quality purity level (<100ppm for host cell protein and <5% for high molecular weight species) can be attained. These results represent the possibility of an antibody manufacturing process using an entirely flow-through mode.
A depth filter is widely used in biopharmaceutical manufacturing process. In this study, we found that buffer exchange to reduce conductivity dramatically improved the removal of impurities in depth filtration. The host cell protein clearance was comparable to that of protein A affinity chromatography, which is generally used as a first capture step in monoclonal antibody purification. In addition, a combination of different depth filters showed enhanced purification. Additional flow-through purification is possible without any sample preparation, and a biopharmaceutical-quality purity level (<100ppm for host cell protein and <5% for high molecular weight species) can be attained. These results represent the possibility of an antibody manufacturing process using an entirely flow-through mode.
