Macroporous Stationary Phase Particles for Fast Macromolecule Separation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional resin beads for adsorption chromatography are inefficient for separating macromolecules due to small micropores that exclude large molecules, leading to low binding capacity, slow separation speeds, and high back pressure, making the process time-consuming and costly.

Innovation Solution

A stationary phase medium composed of cross-linked polymeric particles with interconnected macropores and irregular shapes, allowing convective flow and high adsorption capacity, fabricated through mechanical grinding and size-sorting of porous monoliths to ensure low back pressure and efficient macromolecule separation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If conventional resin beads with micropores are used for adsorption chromatography, then small molecules can be separated effectively, but macromolecules cannot enter the micropores resulting in low binding capacity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebinding capacityVSAvoidmolecular size exclusion

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses porous monoliths with macropores (diameter > 1 μm) instead of conventional resin beads with micropores. The macroporous structure allows macromolecules to penetrate and access the internal adsorbing surfaces, dramatically increasing binding capacity while maintaining high separation efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the pore size parameter from micrometer-scale micropores (conventional resin) to macropores with diameter greater than 1 μm. This parameter change enables macromolecules to enter the pores and access internal adsorbing surfaces, resolving the size exclusion problem.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Speed

If conventional resin beads are used, then adsorption can occur, but intra-bead diffusion is the rate limiting step resulting in slow separation speeds

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseparation speedVSAvoidseparation time

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces diffusion-based mass transport (conventional in resin beads) with convection-dominated flow through macropores. The larger pore dimensions and interconnected structure enable convective flow, which is much faster than diffusion, thereby increasing separation speed and reducing processing time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Stress or pressure

If resin beads with limited convective flow are used, then adsorption can proceed, but high pressure drop occurs across the chromatographic column

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveback pressureVSAvoidflow rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Stress or pressureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs porous monoliths with macropores that provide excellent convective flow characteristics. The macroporous structure with diameter > 1 μm reduces flow resistance compared to microporous resin beads, resulting in lower back pressure and improved ease of operation at higher flow rates.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

4Stress or pressure

If perfusion resin beads with macropores are used, then convective mass transport is enabled, but the beads are spherical with narrow size distribution leading to narrow convective flow channels and high back pressure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveback pressureVSAvoidparticle shape

Core Design Contradiction:

Stress or pressureVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses irregularly shaped porous monoliths instead of spherical perfusion resin beads. The asymmetric, non-spherical shapes create broader inter-particle convective flow channels when packed, reducing flow resistance and back pressure while maintaining effective convective mass transport.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

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 solution enables fast and efficient separation of macromolecules with high adsorption capacity and low back pressure, suitable for chromatographic columns, improving productivity and reducing separation time.

Implementation Method 1

a mobile phase fluid is transported through the porous network by convection alone

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 2

Adsorption chromatography is a type of liquid chromatography for separation of a component in a mixture by selective adsorption from a mobile phase onto a solid stationary phase

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Data Source

PatentUS12403453B2Stationary phase medium for adsorption chromatography and manufacturing method thereof

Publication Date: 2025.09.02 TANTTI LAB INC

AI summary

The invention relates to a stationary phase medium for adsorption chromatography, which is in form of porous particles suitable for being packed into a chromatographic column. The porous particles are made of cross-linked polymeric material and formed with interconnected macropores to constitute a porous network, through which a mobile phase fluid may flow in a convective manner. The porous particles are substantially free of diffusive pores and, thus, the mass transfer through the porous network is governed by convection alone. The porous particles are fabricated to have irregular granular configurations with rough outer surfaces, so that the convective flow between the porous particles will not be impeded during chromatography process.