Electrospun Weak Anion-exchange Fibrous Membranes for Protein Purification

Advances in high-throughput, high-capacity nonwoven membranes for chromatography in downstream processing: A review

Nonwoven membranes are highly engineered fibrous materials that can be manufactured on a large scale from a wide range of different polymers, and their surfaces can be modified using a large variety of different chemistries and ligands. The fiber diameters, surface areas, pore sizes, total porosities, and thicknesses of the nonwoven mats can be carefully controlled, providing many opportunities for creative approaches for the development of novel membranes with unique properties to meet the needs of the future of downstream processing. Fibrous membranes are already finding use in ultrafiltration, microfiltration, depth filtration, and, more recently, in membrane chromatography for product capture and impurity removal. This article summarizes the various methods of manufacturing nonwoven fabrics, and the many methods available for the modification of the fiber surfaces. It also reviews recent studies focused on the use of nonwoven fabric devices in membrane chromatography and provides some perspectives on the challenges that need to be overcome to increase binding capacities, decrease residence times, and reduce pressure drops so that eventually they can replace resin column chromatography in downstream process operations.

Cation-exchange performance of a citric-acid esterified cellulose nanofibrous membrane for highly-selective proteins' permeability and adsorption capacity

The usage of low-cost, readily available, or even disposable, single-use membranes in macromolecules' purification and separation is still in the development phase. In this research, highly porous (>95 %), water- and compression stable cation-exchange membranes were prepared by freeze-casting using cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) and citric acid (CA) acting as a crosslinker and source of weak anionic (carboxylic) surface groups arising from the mono-esterified CA. The membranes were characterized by different analytical techniques, and evaluated for the ionic adsorption efficacy of different proteins in dead-end filtration mode using a Tri-buffer of pH 8. The membrane's internal microstructure (porosity and density) with the available (quantity and access) carboxylic groups was confirmed, to determine not only the proteins' specific (related to the net charged and molecular weight) adsorption dynamic (>52 % of positive Lysozyme/Cytochrome, <8 % of negative BSA/Myoglobin; ≤0.5 g/L) at extremely high flow rates (>3.000 hL/h*MPa*m2), but also their desorption (>97 %) and re-equilibration (using NaCl) with flux recovery (>80 %). Such efficiency was achieved with up to 5 consecutive filtering cycles. The high permeability (>87 %) of the spherical and negatively surface charged microparticles (used as models) also suggests the likelihood of removing larger microbial species, which, while retaining relatively smaller and positively charged proteins, further increases their potential in biopharma applications.

Current research approaches in downstream processing of pharmaceutically relevant proteins

Biopharmaceuticals and their production are on the rise. They are needed to treat and to prevent multiple diseases. Therefore, an urgent need for process intensification in downstream processing (DSP) has been identified to produce biopharmaceuticals more efficiently. The DSP currently accounts for the majority of production costs of pharmaceutically relevant proteins. This short review gathers essential research over the past 3 years that addresses novel solutions to overcome this bottleneck. The overview includes promising studies in the fields of chromatography, aqueous two-phase systems, precipitation, crystallization, magnetic separation, and filtration for the purification of pharmaceutically relevant proteins.

Electrospun Hydrophobic Interaction Chromatography (HIC) Membranes for Protein Purification

Responsive membranes for hydrophobic interaction chromatography have been fabricated by functionalizing poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) (PVCL) ligands on the substrate of electrospun regenerated cellulose nanofibers. Both static and dynamic binding capacities and product recovery were investigated using bovine serum albumin (BSA) and Immunoglobulin G (IgG) as model proteins. The effects of ligand chain length and chain density on static binding capacity were also studied. A static binding capacity of ~25 mg/mL of membrane volume (MV) can be achieved in optimal ligand grafting conditions. For dynamic binding studies, protein binding capacity increased with protein concentration from 0.1 to 1.0 g/L. Dynamic binding capacity increased from ~8 mg/mL MV at 0.1 g/L BSA to over 30 mg/mL at 1.0 g/L BSA. However, BSA recovery decreased as protein concentration increased from ~98% at 0.1 g/L BSA to 51% at 1 g/L BSA loading concentration. There is a clear trade-off between binding capacity and recovery rate. The electrospun substrate with thicker fibers and more open pore structures is superior to thinner fibrous membrane substrates.

De Novo Ion-Exchange Membranes Based on Nanofibers

The unique functions of nanofibers (NFs) are based on their nanoscale cross-section, high specific surface area, and high molecular orientation, and/or their confined polymer chains inside the fibers. The introduction of ion-exchange (IEX) groups on the surface and/or inside the NFs provides de novo ion-exchangers. In particular, the combination of large surface areas and ionizable groups in the IEX-NFs improves their performance through indices such as extremely rapid ion-exchange kinetics and high ion-exchange capacities. In reality, the membranes based on ion-exchange NFs exhibit superior properties such as high catalytic efficiency, high ion-exchange and adsorption capacities, and high ionic conductivities. The present review highlights the fundamental aspects of IEX-NFs (i.e., their unique size-dependent properties), scalable production methods, and the recent advancements in their applications in catalysis, separation/adsorption processes, and fuel cells, as well as the future perspectives and endeavors of NF-based IEMs.

High Performance Mixed-Matrix Electrospun Membranes for Ammonium Removal from Wastewaters

Mixed-matrix electrospun membranes were developed to investigate ammonium removal from low ammonium concentration wastewaters for the first time. Particles derived from the inexpensive zeolite 13X were successfully incorporated into polyethersulfone (PES) matrices. The fabricated mixed-matrix electrospun membranes demonstrate high ammonium removal capacity reaching over 55 mg/g_zeolite, more than 2.5 times higher than the previously fabricated mixed-matrix membranes via non-solvent induced phase inversion. Moreover, the membranes fabricated exhibit high permeability and ease of regeneration. Over 90% of total ammonium nitrogen (TAN) can be removed from low TAN wastewaters such as aquaculture wastewaters. In addition to zeolite 13X, other zeolite particles including zeolite Y, zeolite 3A and 4A were also incorporated into the membrane matrix. The inexpensive zeolite 13X show the highest ammonium exchange capacity. Particle type, loading and the level of its dispersion all affect TAN removal capacity.

High-Performance Polyacrylic Acid-Grafted PVDF Nanofiltration Membrane with Good Antifouling Property for the Textile Industry

In the textile industry, a high-efficiency dye removal and low-retention of salt is demanded for recycling wastewater. In this study, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) ultrafiltration membrane was transformed to a negatively charged loose nanofiltration (NF) membrane through UV-grafting of acrylic acid. At the optimal exposure of PVDF membrane in UV light for 5 min, the membrane had a high dye recovery above 99% (Congo red and Eriochrome^® Black T) and a low sodium chloride (NaCl) rejection of less than 15% along with pure water flux of 26 L∙m⁻²∙h⁻¹∙bar⁻¹. Its antifouling and oleophobicity surface properties were verified using fluorescent- bovine serum albumin (BSA) and underwater mineral oil contact angle, respectively. According to the fluorescent microscopic images, the modified membrane had ten times lower adhesion of protein on the surface than the unmodified membrane. The underwater oil contact angle was raised from 110° to 155°. Moreover, the salt rejection followed this sequence: Na₂SO₄ > MgSO₄ > NaCl > MgCl₂, which agreed with the typical negatively charged NF membrane. In addition, the physicochemical characterization of membranes was further investigated to understand and link to the membrane performance, such as surface functional group, surface elements analysis, surface roughness/morphology, and surface hydrophilicity.

Intensified Downstream Processing of Monoclonal Antibodies Using Membrane Technology

The need to intensify downstream processing of monoclonal antibodies to complement the advances in upstream productivity has led to increased attention toward implementing membrane technologies. With the industry moving toward continuous operations and single use processes, membrane technologies show promise in fulfilling the industry needs due to their operational flexibility and ease of implementation. Recently, the applicability of membrane-based unit operations in integrating the downstream process has been explored. In this article, the major developments in the application of membrane-based technologies in the bioprocessing of monoclonal antibodies are reviewed. The recent progress toward developing intensified end-to-end bioprocesses and the critical role membrane technology will play in achieving this goal are focused upon.

Zwitterionic Polymer Brush Grafted on Polyvinylidene Difluoride Membrane Promoting Enhanced Ultrafiltration Performance with Augmented Antifouling Property

Superhydrophilic zwitterions on the membrane surface have been widely exploited to improve antifouling properties. However, the problematic formation of a <20 nm zwitterionic layer on the hydrophilic surface remains a challenge in wastewater treatment. In this work, we focused on the energy consumption and time control of polymerization and improved the strong hydrophilicity of the modified polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) membrane. The sulfobetaine methacrylate (SBMA) monomer was treated with UV-light through polymerization on the PVDF membrane at a variable time interval of 30 to 300 s to grow a poly-SBMA (PSBMA) chain and improve the membrane hydrophilicity. We examined the physiochemical properties of as-prepared PVDF and PVDF-PSBMA_x using numeric analytical tools. Then, the zwitterionic polymer with controlled performance was grafted onto the SBMA through UV-light treatment to improve its antifouling properties. The PVDF-PSBMA_120s modified membrane exhibited a greater flux rate and indicated bovine serum albumin (BSA) rejection performance. PVDF-PSBMA_120s and unmodified PVDF membranes were examined for their antifouling performance using up to three cycles dynamic test using BSA as foulant. The PVDF-modified PSBMA polymer improved the antifouling properties in this experiment. Overall, the resulting membrane demonstrated an enhancement in the hydrophilicity and permeability of the membrane and simultaneously augmented its antifouling properties.