Convective Interaction Media: Polymer-Based Supports for Fast Separation of Biomolecules

A. Štrancar, M. Barut, A. Podgornik, P. Koselj, D. Josić, A. Buchacher

LC-GC International – October 1998, 660-670

Separation supports based on convective interaction media (CIM) allow higher throughputs and separations; faster by one order of magnitude when compared with separation materials based on conventional porous particles (1). In the future, they may well play an important role in the production and quality control of diagnostic and therapeutic products based on large biomolecules. A major advantage of CIM is their use in control procedures during production processes — an important factor in satisfying the demands of regulatory authorities, both with regard to the registration of the product as a drug, and also in controlling the process in such a manner that immediate correction is possible should the process deviate from the prescribed path. The CIM supports can easily be scaled up because the larger units are made of the same material and can be used for fast separations on the preparative level. Additionally, these supports can be used for the ‘so-called’ conjoint liquid chromatography (CLC), by combining two or more discs with different ligand groups in the same housing. Finally, owing to their low back pressures and very fast response, CIM supports can be used as biosensors or bioreactors with immobilized enzymes.