Porous Membrane Filtration for Continuous Cell Product Purification

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Solution Overview

Problem

In continuous cell culture methods, fouling of porous membranes leads to a decrease in permeation rate due to deposition or adhesion of substances, which affects the efficiency of product separation and purification.

Innovation Solution

The use of porous membranes with specific surface characteristics, such as opening ratio, pore diameter variation, structural anisotropy, and shear stress control, to maintain membrane permeability and prevent fouling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If continuous culture is used to maintain high cell density and productivity, then productivity is improved, but fouling of the porous membrane occurs leading to decreased permeation rate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecell densityVSAvoidmembrane permeation rate
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the shear stress parameter to a specific range (0.1-10 Pa) to prevent fouling while maintaining productivity. This involves controlling flow rate and other operational parameters to maintain the membrane surface in a state that resists deposition without compromising cell culture efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback control by continuously monitoring the permeation rate and adjusting operational parameters (such as flow rate) in response to detected changes. When fouling is detected through decreased permeation rate, the system adjusts parameters to restore optimal performance, creating a closed-loop control system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Manufacturing precision

If filtration is performed to separate cells from product, then purification is improved, but membrane fouling occurs reducing filtration efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepurification efficiencyVSAvoidfiltration rate
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the shear stress parameter to a controlled range (0.1-10 Pa) during filtration to prevent fouling while maintaining separation efficiency. This parameter optimization allows the system to achieve both high purification quality and sustained filtration rates over extended operation periods

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies dynamics by making the filtration process adaptive rather than static. Operational parameters are dynamically adjusted based on real-time monitoring of permeation rate and fouling conditions, allowing the system to maintain optimal performance throughout the filtration process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The described membrane characteristics effectively suppress the decrease in permeation rate, ensuring efficient product production and purification by maintaining optimal filtration conditions.

Implementation Method 1

filtering a cell broth through a porous membrane to obtain a product by the cells

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Implementation Method 2

a porous membrane has a liquid contact surface with at least any one selected from a micropore ratio of 0.03 or more and 0.3 or less

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPermeation: Permeation

Data Source

PatentEP4621062A1Method for producing cell product, method for purifying cell product, method for suppressing decrease in membrane permeability of cell product, system for producing cell product, and system for purifying cell product
Publication Date: 2025.09.24 ASAHI KASEI LIFE SCIENCE CORPORATION
  • EP4621062A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4621062A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4621062A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

There is provided a method for producing a product by cells, the method including filtering a cell broth through a porous membrane to obtain a product by the cells, in which the porous membrane has a liquid contact surface having at least any one selected from the group consisting of an opening ratio of 57.5% or less, a pore diameter having a coefficient of variation of 0.5 or less, and a ratio of pore diameter/fiber diameter of 1.3 or less, and the liquid contact surface has at least any one selected from the group consisting of a structural anisotropy of 0.97 or more and 1.03 or less and a ratio of long pore diameter/short pore diameter of 1.8 or less, and a shear stress due to a flow of the cell broth on the liquid contact surface is set to 4.0 N/m2 or less.