New technical concept for alternating tangential flow filtration in biotechnological cell separation processes

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Bioprocess Engineering
• Cell Culture Technology

Background:

• Robust cell retention is critical for successful perfusion cell culture.
• Current methods like tangential flow filtration (TFF) and alternating tangential flow filtration (ATF) have limitations, including fouling and cell accumulation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a novel ATF filtration system that mitigates fouling and reduces cell accumulation.
• To compare the performance of the new system against existing TFF and ATF technologies.

Main Methods:

• A new alternating tangential flow filtration system was designed, avoiding dead-end pump designs.
• The system was tested using a model feed of yeast cells and bovine serum albumin under harsh conditions.
• Performance was directly compared with XCell ATF® and TFF systems.

Main Results:

• The proposed system demonstrated a 20-30% reduction in filtration resistance compared to existing methods.
• Optimization of phase durations and flow control led to a fourfold increase in process duration before blockage.
• Reduced cell accumulation and improved fouling mitigation were observed.

Conclusions:

• The novel ATF filtration system offers superior performance over current cell retention devices in perfusion technology.
• The design improvements lead to enhanced efficiency and extended operational stability in cell culture processes.