Electrospun Nanofibre Chromatography Medium for Low Pressure Drop
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional chromatography systems face limitations such as high pressure drops and long residence times due to the use of packed bed columns, leading to inefficient use of expensive resins and low throughput, which is exacerbated by the need for improved downstream processing techniques in biopharmaceutical production.
Innovation Solution
A chromatography medium comprising electrospun polymer nanofibres forming a stationary phase with a plurality of pores, which allows for higher flow rates and efficient separation by minimizing pressure drop and residence time, and can be used in ion exchange and affinity capture chromatography, with the option of a simulated moving bed system for continuous purification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If packed bed columns with porous beads are used, then adsorption surface area is sufficient, but pressure drop increases and flow rate decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a porous membrane structure with controlled pore sizes (0.1-10 μm) that provides sufficient adsorption surface area while maintaining low pressure drop. The porous structure allows efficient mass transfer and fluid flow compared to conventional packed beads, resolving the contradiction between surface area and pressure drop.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention combines membrane material with functional groups (such as carboxyl, amine, or hydroxyl groups) to create a composite chromatography medium. This composite structure provides both the mechanical integrity of the membrane and the adsorption functionality, achieving high surface area with low pressure drop.
2Measurement precision
If packed bed columns are used, then separation is achieved, but residence time increases and throughput decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The porous membrane structure provides short diffusion paths and efficient mass transfer, reducing residence time while maintaining separation efficiency. The controlled pore sizes and high porosity (30-80%) enable rapid analyte access to active sites, achieving fast throughput without sacrificing separation quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical packed bed system with a membrane-based system that uses surface adsorption rather than bulk phase interactions. This substitution enables faster mass transfer kinetics and shorter residence times while maintaining effective separation, thereby increasing throughput.
3Reliability
If conventional chromatography resins are used, then purification is achieved, but resin cost increases and utilization efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The porous membrane provides a high surface area to volume ratio that increases the effective capacity of the chromatography medium. This allows smaller, more cost-effective resin quantities to achieve the same purification effect as large amounts of conventional resin, reducing material costs while maintaining effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The functionalized membrane composite provides high binding capacity and selective interaction with target molecules, improving purification effectiveness. The integrated functional groups on the membrane surface eliminate the need for separate ligand coupling steps and reduce overall resin requirements, lowering costs while maintaining or improving purification performance.
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 electrospun nanofibre chromatography medium enables higher throughput and reduced product contamination, with improved mass transfer characteristics and sharper breakthrough curves, allowing for more efficient utilization of adsorbent capacity and reduced resin costs.
Implementation Method 1
The stationary phase has differing affinities for different species contained in the load. The species that are either wanted (product capture) or not wanted (contaminant capture) bind to the stationary phase allowing for the purification of the product stream.
Implementation Method 2
Ion exchange chromatography is a widely used technique for the separation and purification of proteins, polypeptides, nucleic acids, due to its widespread applicability, high resolving power, high capacity and simplicity.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a cartridge for use in chromatography, comprising two or more membranes that include a chromatography medium comprising one or more non-woven electrospun polymer nanofibers comprising a plurality of pores through which a mobile phase can permeate, and a holding member to fix the membranes in place relative to one another, and use of the same for the isolation of a biological target molecule from a mobile phase, in particular through ion-exchange or affinity capture chromatography.