Sartorius Stedim Biotech, an international laboratory and process technology provider headquartered in France, is launching what it claims is the first commercially available membrane adsorber for hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC).
Sartobind Phenyl membrane adsorbers, which are manufactured in Goettingen, Germany, allow increased flow rates to ensure faster processes and can be used for process upgrades in purification and polishing of therapeutic proteins.
The company says the Sartobind Phenyl provides the advantages of an HIC ligand adsorber, while showing the specificity and behaviour of a conventional HIC matrix. The hydrophobic phenyl ligand is covalently attached to the >3µm cellulose membrane. Target molecules bind to the membrane with similar binding capacities and at the same buffer conditions as with conventional HIC columns. However, the flow rates can be increased at least 10-fold to allow a faster process upgrade in purification and polishing of therapeutic proteins.
With a binding capacity of 0.4mg/cm² (15mg/ml), Sartobind Phenyl can be used for antibody medium scale capture. Its key application is removing hydrophobic aggregates that pose the risk of unwanted immune system response when patients are treated with therapeutic proteins. Detergent removal and large molecule/bioparticle purification are further application options for HIC membranes.
The company says the membrane adsorber is easy to handle, suitable for single and batch use and scalable from the 3ml Sartobind nano version to the Sartobind 150ml capsule. It will soon also be scalable to the Jumbo 5-litre unit.