Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 24, 2025
09:50
Single Cell Micro-aspiration as an Alternative Strategy to Fluorescence-activated Cell Sorting for Giant Virus Mixture Separation
Published on: October 27, 2019
7.1K
Continuous multi-membrane chromatography of large viral particles
Tiago Matos1, David Hoying1, Adam Kristopeit1
1Vaccine Bioprocess Research and Development, Merck & Co., Inc., West Point, PA 19486, United States.
Journal of Chromatography. A
|July 7, 2023
Summary
Continuous multi-membrane chromatography (CMMC) offers improved biomolecule purification, achieving 80% yield compared to 65% in batch mode. This efficient method significantly reduces membrane area requirements for biopharmaceutical manufacturing.
Area of Science:
- Biopharmaceutical purification
- Chromatographic separation science
- Process engineering
Background:
- Continuous multi-column chromatography (CMCC) enhances bioprocess efficiency and reduces costs.
- Biomolecule instability and facility footprint are key challenges in biopharmaceutical manufacturing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the implementation of a continuous multi-membrane chromatography (CMMC) process for large viral particle purification.
- To compare the separation performance of CMMC with conventional batch chromatography.
Main Methods:
- A four-membrane unit CMMC process was developed and implemented for viral particle purification.
- CMMC performance was evaluated against a full-scale batch chromatographic capture step.
Main Results:
- CMMC achieved a product step yield of 80%, significantly higher than the 65% yield from batch mode.
- Relative purity was slightly increased with CMMC.
- The membrane area required for CMMC was approximately 10% of that needed for batch operation, with similar processing times.
Conclusions:
- CMMC enables steady-state continuous bioprocessing with higher loads and smaller membrane units.
- The CMMC approach offers a more efficient and cost-effective purification strategy for biopharmaceuticals.
- CMMC leverages high flow rates of membrane chromatography for improved process economics.
