Monolithic Chromatography Enables Process Intensification of Virus Purification

10Dec2018

Monoliths are unique from other forms of chromatography media for several reasons. Monolith architecture consists of highly interconnected convective channels that are distributed throughout the entire bed. The large channels are easily available for purification even for large biomolecules. This unique architecture also creates a void-less space, thus significantly reducing shear and product loss. In monoliths, the mass transport is also exclusively convective and laminar which means that all solutes flow with the current regardless of size and require only a few seconds of residence time.

These features make monoliths well suited for the purification of large biomolecules, such as virus particles, vesicles, proteins, RNAs, plasmids and other forms of DNA. Large biomolecules, such as viruses, can be vulnerable during purifications in ways that smaller biomolecules, for example antibodies, are not. For instance, their large size makes them more vulnerable to shear stress and slow diffusion constants. This results in slower process speeds, low capacities and reduced recovery rates when purified with traditional chromatography media.

Here you can find more information on monoliths and an interview with one of our Project Managers (and also one of the authors of the study), Mojca Tajnik Sbaizero.