Integrated process for the purification of antibodies combining aqueous two-phase extraction, hydrophobic interaction chromatography and size-exclusion chromatography

We have evaluated a process incorporating aqueous two-phase extraction, hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC) and size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) for the purification of human immunoglobulin G (IgG) from a Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell supernatant. These unit operations were chosen not only for allowing the removal of target impurities but also for facilitating the integration of different process units without the need for any conditioning step. Extraction in aqueous two-phase systems (ATPSs), composed of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and sodium citrate, allowed the concentration of the antibodies in the citrate-rich phase and the removal of the most hydrophobic compounds in the PEG-rich phase. An ATPS composed of 10% (w/w) PEG 3350 and 12% (w/w) citrate, at pH 6, allowed the recovery of IgG with a 97% yield, 41% HPLC purity and 72% protein purity. This bottom phase was then directly loaded on a phenyl-Sepharose HIC column. This intermediate purification step allowed the capture of the antibodies using a citrate mobile phase with 99% of the antibody recovered in the elution fractions, with 86% HPLC purity and 91% protein purity. Finally, SEC allowed the final polishing by removing IgG aggregates. HIC-eluted fractions were directly injected in a Superose 6 size-exclusion column affording a 100% pure IgG solution with 90% yield.     

强阴离子交换色谱结合分子排阻色谱纯化血清中免疫球蛋白和白蛋白

动物血清中免疫球蛋白和白蛋白的等电点分别约为7.8和4.8,根据它们等电点的较大差别,利用Q SepharoseTM-XL强阴离子交换色谱结合分子排阻色谱同时分离纯化这2种蛋白。以0.02 mol/L pH 8.0的Tris-HCl缓冲液平衡离子交换色谱柱并将已稀释10倍的高免疫的兔血清上样,采用pH分段洗脱。在pH 6.0时以0.3 mL/min低流速洗脱得到高纯度的免疫球蛋白,继续在pH 4.0时洗脱,再辅以Sephadex G-75分子排阻色谱可获得纯度大于95%的白蛋白。对纯化后的蛋白进行活性检测,证明所纯化的免疫球蛋白和白蛋白都保持正常的生物活性。蛋白质含量测定说明免疫球蛋白的纯化回收率达到95%以上,而白蛋白的纯化回收率大于90%。该法简便快速,可同时从动物血清中纯化出保持生物活性的免疫球蛋白和白蛋白,纯化效率高。     

Purification of Membrane-Bound Catechol-O-Methyltransferase by Arginine-Affinity Chromatography

Affinity chromatography strategies using amino acids as immobilize d ligands have been successfully applied for the purification of different biomolecules from complex mixtures. Therefore, in this work, several supports with immobilized amino acids were applied for the purification of membrane-bound catechol-O-methyltransferase (MBCOMT) from Pichia pastoris lysates and it was verified that l-arginine provided the required selectivity for MBCOMT isolation. The optimization of the binding and elution buffers composition allowed the recovery of purified MBCOMT in a biological and immunologically active state from the arginine support. Additional optimization experiments varying the mobile phase pH, temperature and the concentration of the injected sample were carried out and an improvement of MBCOMT adsorption and purity was observed. Indeed, the optimized conditions for MBCOMT isolation and purification consisted in: loading of 4 mg of total protein onto the column previously equilibrated at 20 °C where the target enzyme was recovered in a purified fraction using 500 mM NaCl, 10 mM DTT and 0.5 % (v/v) Triton X-100 in 10 mM Tris buffer (pH 7) with a total bioactivity recovery of 24 ± 2.2 % and a purification fold of 4.95 ± 0.23, a value that is consistent with the best values ever reported for MBCOMT. Moreover, the l-arginine support demonstrated the ability to bind the target protein in a wide range of pH values (above and below the pI of the target protein) and the MBCOMT elution occurs in a single peak pattern. Finally, the strategy here reported can aid in the implementation of crystallization studies with MBCOMT in complex with clinically relevant inhibitors since it is obtained in a purified form with biological activity. In conclusion, a novel affinity chromatography strategy was developed and implemented for recombinant MBCOMT purification in a highly immunological and biologically active state.

     

Effects of peptide density and elution pH on affinity chromatographic purification of human immunoglobulins A and M

A family of linear hexamer peptide ligands HWRGWV, HYFKFD and HFRRHL, initially identified for their affinity to the Fc portion of human immunoglobulin G (hIgG), also have potential for use in the purification of human immunoglobulins A (hIgA) and M (hIgM). HWRGWV demonstrated the strongest binding affinity to hIgM, followed by hIgA and hIgG respectively. The effects of N-terminal acetylation of the peptide, as well as elution buffer pH, on the chromatographic elution of human IgG, IgA and IgM from HWRGWV resins at various peptide densities (0.04-0.55 meq/g) were investigated. Over 80% recovery and 90% purity were achieved for human IgG and IgA isolation from complete minimum essential medium (cMEM) using HWRGWV resin at optimum peptide densities. For human IgM, 75.7% recovery and 86.0% purity were achieved by using HWRGWV at a low peptide density of 0.04 meq/g. Although HYFKFD and HFRRHL exhibited their ability for isolation of human IgG, IgA and IgM from cMEM as well, HWRGWV is the best option among them for large-scale purification of human IgG, IgA and IgM based on conditions tested.     

Isolation of immunoglobulin G from bovine milk whey by poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate)‐based anion‐exchange cryogel

Bovine milk whey contains several bioactive proteins such as α‐lactalbumin, β‐lactoglobulin, and immunoglobulin G (IgG). Chromatographic separation of these proteins has received much attention in the past few years. In this work, we provide a chromatographic method for the efficient isolation of IgG from bovine milk whey using a poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate)‐based anion‐exchange cryogel. The monolithic cryogel was prepared by grafting 2‐(dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate onto the poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate)‐based cryogel matrix and then employed to separate IgG under various buffer pH and salt elution conditions. The results showed that the buffer pH and the salt concentration in the step elution have remarkable influences on the purity of IgG, while the IgG recovery depended mainly on the loading volume of whey for a given cryogel bed. High purity IgG (more than 95%) was obtained using the phosphate buffer with pH of 5.8 as the running buffer and the salt solution in as the elution liquid. With suitable loading volume of whey, the maximum IgG recovery of about 94% was observed. The present separation method is thus a potential choice for the isolation of high‐purity IgG from bovine milk whey.     

Phospho‐l‐tyrosine‐agarose chromatography: Adsorption of human IgG and its proteolytic fragments

The behavior of human immunoglobulin G (IgG) and antigen‐binding fragment (Fab fragment) adsorption onto phospho‐l ‐tyrosine immobilized on agarose (P‐Tyr‐agarose) was evaluated by pseudoaffinity chromatography. The effects of buffer systems MES, MOPS, Bis–Tris, Tris–HCl and sodium phosphate (NaP) and pH on IgG adsorption were studied and high purity values were obtained (96%, based on ELISA analysis of albumin, transferrin and immunoglobulins A, G and M) when IgG was purified from human plasma diluted in 10 mmol L^?1 NaP buffer at pH 6.0. The capture of IgG by the P‐Tyr‐agarose was also promising, since 91% of the IgG was adsorbed when plasma was diluted in 25 mmol L^?1 MES buffer at pH 5.5, recommending its use for IgG depletion from human plasma under this condition. The experimental data on IgG adsorption kinetics were in agreement with the pseudo‐second‐order model. The adsorption isotherm data were well described by the Langmuir–Freundlich model with the value of parameter n being <1 (0.72), indicating negative cooperativity. Selectivity was achieved on P‐Tyr‐agarose from digested human IgG in HEPES 25 mmol L^?1 buffer at pH 7.0 where Fab fragments were obtained in eluted fractions without Fc fragments (but with uncleaved IgG) with 86.2% recovery.     

Accelerated purification process development of monoclonal antibodies for shortening time to clinic. Design and case study of chromatography processes

For accelerating the purification process development of human monoclonal antibodies (hmAbs) for pharmaceutical drugs, we designed a standardized method for setting the conditions of the purification process, which could be applied to hmAbs for the early phase of pharmaceutical development. The process includes three sequential chromatography steps: Protein A affinity chromatography (AFC), anion-exchange chromatography (AIEC) and cation-exchange chromatography (CIEC), and also includes a low pH virus inactivation step after the AFC step. We predicted the elution pH in the AFC and elution salt concentration in the CIEC from the amino acid sequences of hmAbs, as described in our previous paper. The mobile phase pH in AIEC and the pH for virus inactivation were also predicted based on the amino acid sequence of hmAb. As a case study, six hmAbs (two of IgG(1), two of IgG(2) and two of IgG(4)) were purified with the standardized method. The recovery, purity and clearance of impurities (DNA, host cell proteins (HCP), and Protein A) were examined. All the six hmAbs were purified with high recovery and high clearance of the impurities. Factors affecting the impurities level in the purified products are also discussed.     

The effect of NaCl on the adsorption of human IgG onto CM-Asp–PEVA hollow fiber membrane-immobilized nickel and cobalt metal ions

Over the past decade, immobilized metal-affinity adsorbents have attracted increasing interest for purification of natural and recombinant immunoglobulin G (IgG). In this work, nickel and cobalt metal ions complexed with CM-Asp (carboxymethylaspartate) immobilized on poly(ethylenevinyl alcohol) (PEVA) hollow fiber membranes were evaluated for purification of human IgG from serum. The buffer system and NaCl had important effects on human serum protein adsorption in both adsorbents. Efficient purification of IgG was accomplished in sodium phosphate buffer without NaCl at pH 7.0. Under this condition, the electrostatic interactions are important for adsorption. The Ni(II)-CM-Asp–PEVA had a protein adsorption capacity of 17.5 mg of IgG mL^?1 fiber when human serum diluted was loaded in crossflow filtration mode and the eluted IgG had a purity of 82.6 % (based on total protein and IgG, IgM, HSA, and Trf nephelometric analysis). Fitting the experimental IgG adsorption data to the Langmuir and Langmuir–Freundlich models showed that Ni(II)-CM-Asp and Co(II)-CM-Asp had Langmuirean and non-Langmuirean behavior, respectively, with positive cooperativity for IgG-Co(II)-CM-Asp binding, probably due to multipoint interactions (n = 2.12 ± 0.31). Thus, these membranes can be considered as alternative adsorbents for the purification or depletion of IgG from human serum.     

Cyclodextrin biospecific-like displacement in dye-affinity chromatography

Interactions between Cibacron Blue F3GA (CB F3GA), as a model of triazine dye, and 2-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HP-beta-CD), as a model of cyclodextrin, were investigated by monitoring the spectral shift that accompanies the binding phenomena. Matrix analysis of the difference spectral titration of CB F3GA with HP-beta-CD revealed only two absorbing species, indicating a host-guest ratio of 1:1. The dissociation constant for this HP-beta-CD-CB F3GA complex, Kd, was found to be 0.43 mM. The data for HP-beta-CD forming inclusion complexes with CB F3GA were used to develop the concept of competitive elution by inclusion complexes in dye-affinity chromatography. When this concept was applied to the elution of L-lactate dehydrogenase from a CB F3GA affinity matrix, it was shown to be an effective elution strategy. It provided a 15-fold purification factor with 89% recovery and sharp elution profile (0.8 column volumes for 80% recovery), which is as good as that obtained by specific elution with NADH (16-fold, 78% recovery and 1.8 column volumes). In addition, the new elution strategy showed a better purification factor and sharper elution profile than traditional non-specific elution with KCl (4.5-fold, and 1.4 column volumes). Hence, competitive elution by inclusion complexes may be a promising strategy for eluting proteins with high recoveries and purification factors in dye-affinity chromatography.     

An ELISA-based approach to optimize elution conditions for obtaining hapten-specific antibodies

The correct choice of the elution conditions to break an affinity interaction is important for the successful purification of biomolecules. The optimal elution buffer liberates the bound substance in a minimum volume and maintains the activity of the purified material. The present study demonstrates an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)-based approach for selection of specific elution conditions for eluting antibodies against a small molecule (atrazine) from pooled sera. Six different elution conditions were tried for the removal of antibodies from the complex. Large-scale purification of anti-atrazine antibodies from the sera was done with a hapten-specific column using an amino-terminal crosslinked agarose gel. Efficacy in terms of total amount of recovery and binding affinities of eluted antibodies from the column were further investigated by ELISA. Results indicate that the ELISA-based elution approach is ideal for the selection of suitable elution buffer that can subsequently be utilized for affinity purification applications.     

Adsorption Strategy of Plasmid DNA Nanoparticulate: Preparative Purification by a Simple Custom Expanded Bed Column

This paper summarizes the critical examination of the hydrodynamic performance of the NBG expanded bed contactor operated with streamline-DEAE adsorbent under various operating conditions for expanded bed adsorption of plasmid DNA nanoparticles from alkaline lysate. The purification process is not RNase-free. In this study, a rapid and efficient scaleable purification protocol obtaining, plasmid DNA nanoparticles (average size of 40 nm) with a high purity level for use as therapeutic agent in customized NBG expanded bed columns was developed. This technique allows efficient levels of binding to the column media and vector purification without centrifugation or filtration steps. Residence time distribution (RTD) studies were exploited to achieve the optimal condition of plasmid DNA nanoparticle (pDNA) recovery upon anion exchange adsorbent in this contactor. In addition, the purification experiments were carried out in the expanded bed columns with settle bed height of 6.0 ± 0.2 cm. NaCl gradient elution enabled the isolation of supercoiled plasmid from low-Mr RNA, cDNA and plasmid variants. Subsequently dynamic binding capacity of the adsorbent was calculated while these values decreased with increase in flow velocity. Moreover, the effect of pH upon the performance of this recovery process and the feedstock volume upon the expanded bed anion exchange purification was investigated. The results demonstrated that separation of low-Mr RNA from plasmid DNA isoforms in the range of pH between 5.5 and 7.5 is achievable in this column. The yield of recovery of pDNA in optimal condition was higher than 88.51% which was a superior result in one-pass frontal chromatography. The generic application of simple customized NBG expanded bed column and its potential for the purification and recovery of plasmid DNA as a nanoparticulate bioproduct is strongly discussed.     

离子交换色谱法分离纯化鸡卵黄免疫球蛋白

建立了高效、经济、大规模获得鸡卵黄免疫球蛋白(IgY)的生产方法。在对传统的水稀释法改良的基础上,结合聚乙二醇沉淀与离子交换色谱进行IgY的分离纯化。结果显示,用8倍无菌水稀释蛋黄液,用0.1 mol/L HCl调节pH为5.2,在4 ℃下静置8 h,于5000×g力离心可得上清粗IgY液,经测定回收率可达93.47%。然后用6%聚乙二醇沉淀后经DEAE-Toyopearl 650 M离子交换纯化,最佳的纯化条件: 0.05 mol/L磷酸盐缓冲液(PBS, pH 7)平衡上样,0.075 mol/L PBS(pH 7)洗脱。十二烷基硫酸钠-聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳(SDS-PAGE)分析结果显示所得的IgY的纯度为95.02%,活性保持率高达73.77%。本研究弥补了传统分离方法不能同时达到高纯度和高回收率的缺点,且可用于大规模生产。     

Analysis of aminofluorescein-fatty acid derivatives by capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence detection at the attomole level: application to mycobacterial fatty acids

In the present work, a new method of purification for antithrombin was developed using an expanded bed chromatography technique. Milk fat was removed by centrifugation and caseins were precipitated selectively by addition of zinc chloride. Crude skim milk was then directly fed to an expanded bed column containing the ion-exchange matrix. The use of a cation-exchanger (P-11) resulted in 100% adsorption and 13% recovery whereas the use of an anion-exchanger (DE-52) resulted in 100% adsorption and 84% recovery and up to five-fold purification of antithrombin. The buffer, 25 mM Tris-HCl pH 8.0; the eluting agent, 2 M (NH4)2SO4; and 100% expansion of settled bed were determined to be the optimum conditions for the purification of antithrombin by ion-exchange expanded bed chromatography. A comparison of column diameters revealed that the elution yields increase by two-fold while the column diameter increases from 1 to 2.5 cm. However, antithrombin III was concentrated to a higher degree by using the column with an internal diameter of 1 cm.     

Rapid purification of antisteroid antibodies by high-performance liquid affinity chromatography

An adsorbent for the high-performance affinity chromatography of antisteroid antibodies was prepared, based on a commercial pre-packed column. The column contained activated microparticulate silica beads bearing epoxide functions, on which the steroid dexamethasone was covalently linked. The column was used successfully for the rapid and complete isolation of several hundred microgram amounts of specific antidexamethasone antibodies from rabbit antisera. The practical aspects of the purification procedure, especially the optimization of the washing and of the elution steps, are detailed. Despite non-biospecific elution with 20% acetonitrile in an acidic buffer, the purification yield was very satisfactory and the biological activity of the purified immunoglobulins appeared excellent.     

Purification of the glycoprotein glucose oxidase from Penicillium amagasakiense by high-performance liquid chromatography

Fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) in combination with ion-exchange chromatography on a Mono Q column was used to purify glucose oxidase from Penicillium amagasakiense to homogeneity. Purification was performed with a mixed pH and salt gradient, with 20 mM phosphate buffer (pH 8.5) as starting buffer (A) and 50 mM acetate buffer (pH 3.6) with 0.1 M NaCl as elution buffer (B). Elution conditions were optimized to permit the simultaneous purification and separation of the glucose oxidase isoforms. Three peaks, each consisting of 1-2 isoforms and exhibiting a homogeneous titration curve profile, were resolved with a very flat linear gradient of 5.0-5.1% B in 40 ml. Three more peaks, each consisting of several isoforms, were eluted at 10%, 30% and 100% B. Optimization of the elution conditions and separation of the glucose oxidase isoforms was only possible because of the rapidity of each purification step and the high resolution provided by FPLC and Mono Q.     

在线单柱二维液相色谱法快速纯化牛胰腺中细胞色素C

用二维（弱阳,疏水）色谱柱首次完成了在线单柱二维液相色谱法快速纯化牛胰腺中的细胞色素C.在将牛胰腺粗提液进样到该二维色谱柱后,在弱阳离子交换模式下,以梯度洗脱方式进行一维色谱分离,并将分离得到的细胞色素C样品液收集到色谱仪的附加样品储液管内.然后将储液管中样品液全部排出,并二次进样到同一根二维色谱柱中,与此同时也完成了对该样品液的缓冲溶液交换,按疏水色谱（HIC）分离模式进行分离.最终对细胞色素C完成了第二维的HIC纯化.上述全部操作均为在线,在一具有正压的封闭体系中进行并可在52分钟内完成.细胞色素C的最终产品纯度高达94.7%（RSD=1.91%）,质量回收率为80.5%（RSD=2.20%）.预计此在线单柱二维液相色谱法也可能用于牛胰腺中其他功能蛋白的快速纯化,并可能将其放大到制备和生产规模.     

New downstream processing strategy for the purification of monoclonal antibodies from transgenic tobacco plants

Affinity chromatography on immobilized Protein A is the current method of choice for the purification of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Despite its widespread use it presents certain drawbacks, such as ligand instability, leaching, toxicity and high cost. In the present work, we report a new procedure for the purification of two human monoclonal anti-HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) antibodies (mAbs 2G12 and 4E10) from transgenic tobacco plants using stable and low cost chromatographic materials. The first step of the mAb 2G12 purification procedure is comprised of an aqueous two-phase partition system (ATPS) for the removal of polyphenols while providing an essential initial purification boost (2.01-fold purification). In the second step, mAb 2G12 was purified using cation-exchange chromatography (CEX) on S-Sepharose FF, by elution with 20mM sodium phosphate buffer pH 7.5, containing 0.1M NaCl. The eluted mAb was directly loaded onto an immobilized metal affinity chromatography column (IMAC, Zn(2+)-iminodiacetic acid-Sepharose 6B) and eluted by stepwise pH gradient. The proposed method offered 162-fold purification with 97.2% purity and 63% yield. Analysis of the antibody preparation by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), enzyme immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and western blot showed that the mAb 2G12 was fully active and free of degraded variants, polyphenols and alkaloids. The effectiveness of the present purification protocol was evaluated by using a second transgenic human monoclonal anti-HIV mAb 4E10. The results showed that the same procedure can be successfully used for the purification of mAb 4E10. In the case of mAb 4E10, the proposed method offered 148-fold purification with 96.2% purity and 36% yield. Therefore, the proposed protocol may be of generic use for the purification of mAbs from transgenic tobacco plants.     

Application of preparative high-speed counter-current chromatography for separation of chlorogenic acid from Flos Lonicerae

Chlorogenic acid, an ester formed between caffeic acid and quinic acid, is a major phenolic compound in the traditional Chinese medicinal herb Flos Lonicerae. The separation and purification of chlorogenic acid from the crude extract of Flos Lonicerae was achieved by high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC). A high acid, highly polar two-phase solvent system containing n-butanol-acetic acid-water (4:1:5) was run on a preparative scale. The upper phase was used as the mobile phase in the head to tail elution mode. A 300-mg quantity of the crude extract containing 5.97% chlorogenic acid was loaded on a 342-ml HSCCC column. Double separations were performed with the same solvent system yielding 16.9 mg chlorogenic acid at 94.8% purity with approximately 90% recovery.     

4-(1H-imidazol-1-yl) aniline: A new ligand of mixed-mode chromatography for antibody purification

4-(1H-imidazol-1-yl) aniline (AN) was immobilized on Sepharose CL-6B (AN-Sepharose) for use as a new ligand of mixed-mode chromatography. Adsorption equilibria of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) to AN-Sepharose were studied at extensive pH values (4.0–8.8) and salt concentrations (0–1.0 mol/L). Static binding studies indicated that AN-Sepharose had a good salt-tolerance property for IgG adsorption up to 1.0 mol/L NaCl. This was attributed to the combined ligand–protein interactions (hydrophobic interaction, hydrogen bonding and charge transfer interaction). By contrast with BSA, AN-Sepharose showed a high binding selectivity for IgG at NaCl > 0.2 mol/L. Dynamic binding capacities (DBC) of IgG and BSA at 10% breakthrough were measured at pH 4.0–8.8 by frontal analysis chromatography. IgG had DBC values over 40 mg/mL at pH 7.0–8.8, and the maximum reached 59 mg/mL at pH 8.0. At pH 5.0, a distinct drop in DBC to 8.5 mg/mL was observed, but that for BSA kept over 22 mg/mL. The result suggested that IgG could be selectively desorbed from AN-Sepharose by decreasing pH to about 5. Therefore, compared to BSA, AN-Sepharose exhibited a dual-selectivity for IgG in both adsorption and elution. Purification of IgG from bovine serum also confirmed the dual-selectivity. IgG purity of the pooled fractions by elution at pH 4.0, 4.5 and 5.0 reached 55% and the highest purity, 80%, was obtained at pH 4.5. The average purification factor of IgG was over 25. The results indicate that AN is a promising ligand of mixed-mode chromatography for antibody purification from a complex feedstock.     

固定化金属离子亲和色谱法纯化猪铜锌超氧化物歧化酶

以Ｃｕ~（２＋）－Ｓｅｐｈａｒｏｓｅ４Ｂ固定化金属离子亲和色谱法纯化猪铜锌超氧化物歧化酶,考察了不同的洗脱缓冲溶液及其ｐＨ对纯化效率的影响,显示了方法的有效性。