Current evidence in high throughput ultrafiltration toward the purification of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and biotechnological protein-type molecules

Abstract

Pressure-driven membrane-based technologies, such as microfiltration (MF), ultrafiltration (UF), and nanofiltration (NF), have been successfully implemented in recovering different types of biomolecules and high-value-added compounds from various streams. Especially, UF membranes meet the requirements for separating specific bioproducts in downstream processes, e.g. monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), which are recognized as proteins produced mainly by plasma cells. According to the importance and functionality of the mAbs, their recovery is a current challenge with these bioseparations. Nevertheless, mAbs recovery using UF-assisted processes has been smartly performed over the last decade. To the best of our knowledge, there are no reviews of the reported developments using UF technology toward mAbs separation. Therefore, the goal of this paper is to collect and elucidate ongoing research studies implemented for the featured separation of mAbs and other biotechnological protein-type molecules (e.g. adenovirus serotype, extracellular vesicles, red fluorescent protein, cyanovirin-N, among others) via ultrafiltration-aided systems. The literature evidence (e.g. research papers, patents, etc.) has been analyzed and discussed according to the purpose of the study. Importantly, the relevant findings and novel approaches are discussed in detail. To finalize this document, the advantages, drawbacks, and guidelines in applying membrane-based techniques for such a recovery are presented.

Keywords:

• Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs)
• protein-type molecules
• ultrafiltration
• membrane techniques
• high-throughput molecular sieving
• purification

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

R. Castro-Muñoz acknowledges the School of Engineering and Science and the FEMSA Biotechnology Center at Tecnológico de Monterrey for their support through the Bioprocess (0020209I13) Focus Group. R. Castro-Muñoz also acknowledges the financial support from Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA) under Ulam Programme (Agreement No. PPN/ULM/2020/1/00005/U/00001).