HMG Purification via Multimodal Chromatography

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current purification methods for human menopausal gonadotropin (HMG) fail to completely remove non-gonadotropin proteins like plasma serine protease inhibitor, afamin, insulin-like growth factor binding protein 7, zinc alpha-2-glycoprotein, and albumin, which co-purify with active principles, affecting the bioactivity ratio and purity of HMG-HP.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a multimodal chromatography step using a strong anion exchanger like Capto-adhere™ to specifically purify the LH bioactive fraction (Fraction J3) by modifying conductivity while maintaining constant pH, thereby removing contaminants and achieving higher purity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If traditional purification methods are used for HMG, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the purity of the final product is insufficient due to co-purification of non-gonadotropin proteins

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepurity of HMGVSAvoidcomplexity of purification process
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The purification process is divided into multiple sequential chromatographic steps, each targeting specific contaminants. The method segments the purification task into: (1) initial purification to remove bulk contaminants, (2) multimodal chromatography step to specifically remove co-purifying proteins like afamin and protease inhibitors, and (3) final polishing steps to achieve ultra-purity. This segmentation allows each step to focus on specific impurities rather than attempting to remove all contaminants in a single complex operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces intermediate purification steps with specific chromatography media that act as mediators between the crude extract and the final purified product. These intermediate steps use specially designed chromatography resins with particular selectivity for contaminant proteins, serving as bridging stages that progressively enhance purity without requiring the final step to handle all purification challenges alone.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If additional purification steps are added to remove contaminants, then the purity of HMG increases, but the process complexity and time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepurity of HMGVSAvoidpurification time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs parameter changes in the chromatography conditions to optimize the balance between purification effectiveness and processing time. This includes adjusting flow rates, buffer compositions, pH values, and salt concentrations to achieve rapid separation of contaminants from gonadotropins. The multimodal chromatography step uses optimized gradients that quickly elute contaminants while retaining and then releasing the target hormones, reducing the time each purification step requires.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The purification protocol includes preliminary steps that remove the bulk of contaminants before the critical multimodal chromatography step. By performing preliminary removal of abundant impurities in earlier, faster steps, the subsequent high-resolution purification steps operate on a cleaner sample, reducing their required duration and increasing overall process efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Manufacturing precision

If conventional chromatography is used, then the process is straightforward, but non-gonadotropin proteins like afamin and protease inhibitors co-purify with active principles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepurity of HMGVSAvoidease of purification process
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes composite chromatography media with multiple functional properties in the multimodal chromatography step. These composite resins combine different binding mechanisms (ionic interaction, hydrophobic interaction, hydrogen bonding) within a single material, enabling simultaneous removal of various types of contaminant proteins that have different physicochemical properties. This composite approach achieves high purity in a single step rather than requiring multiple separate conventional chromatography steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The multimodal chromatography resin performs multiple purification functions simultaneously - removing acidic proteins, basic proteins, and other contaminant classes in a single pass through the column. This multi-functional resin replaces what would otherwise require several specialized chromatography steps, simplifying the overall manufacturing process while achieving superior purity results.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

This approach results in HMG-UP with significantly increased FSH and LH bio-potency, achieving a 175% higher purity compared to HMG-HP, with the contaminants being undetectable, and maintaining the essential bioactivity ratio of 1:1.

Implementation Method 1

purification of the gonadotropin of Fraction J3 using a strong anion exchanger with multimodal functionality, eluting with a buffer at a constant pH but modifying the conductivity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectIon exchange: Ion Exchange

Implementation Method 2

multimodal chromatography step using a strong anion exchanger like Capto-adhere™

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChromatography: Chromatography

Implementation Method 3

specifically a multimodal strong anion exchanger, Capto-adhere™ (Fraction J3-UP)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Data Source

PatentEP3145950B1A process for obtaining HMG-up (human menopausal gonadotropin with ultra-purity grade) and a composition free of contaminants
Publication Date: 2019.01.09 INST MASSONE
  • EP3145950B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3145950B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3145950B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention refers to a method of purification of HMG(human menopausal gonadotropin) by multimodal chromatography in order to obtain HMG-UP (human menopausal gonadotropin with ultra-purity grade) composition.