Optimisation of Continuous Capture Chromatography Processes

Continuous capture chromatography is a chromatographic technique promising higher efficiency through higher resin utilization, higher productivity and lower buffer consumption compared to batch chromatography capture processes.

Designing Continuous capture chromatography processes is more challenging than designing standard batch processes because each chromatographic phase is influenced by the previous phase. An iterative approach can be used to identify optimal conditions.

Our traditional process design approach was based on single column breakthrough curves and feeding the breakthrough data into a model. However, this concept leads to a sub-optimal process as it is based on a single loading flow rate during all phases, while effectively, flow rates and volumes in interconnected and parallel load phases should be different for an optimal process. In this webinar, I will present an approach where different flow rates and different breakthrough curves are used as model inputs together with pressure-flow dependencies for the resin of interest. Using the improved process design, significantly higher productivities were achieved compared to the standard procedure. The effect was confirmed for a given in-house model process with approximately 50% higher productivities which has been confirmed at laboratory scale. Finally, implications of the new Continuous capture chromatography design approach for large-scale manufacturing are discussed. 

Presented by Matthias Wiendahl, Principle Scientist at Novo Nordisk A/S

Matthias studied Biotechnology at Technical University Braunschweig, Germany followed by a PhD (Dr. Ing.) in Juergen Hubbuchs group at Research Center in Juelich, Germany. His PhD project was financed through a Novo Nordisk A/S scholarship with a focus on high-throughput screening in downstream processing of biologics. Between 2007-2012 Matthias was working as a development scientist at Novo Nordisk A/S where he had both process development and project management tasks. In 2012 Matthias moved into a Principal Scientist position in a Manufacturing Science and Technology department. His focus has been on purification of biologics – mostly through chromatography and filtration, and he has been working with growth hormones, haemophilia factors, insulins and different antibody formats at lab and industrial scale.

Matthias has worked in various Biophorum workstreams on continuous downstream and PAT techniques. Beside troubleshooting and process optimization, his current focus is on integration of PAT technologies and optimisation of mAb capture processes using continuous capture SMB.