Rational design of purification processes for recombinant proteins

Abstract

This paper discusses the elements important for rational design of purification processes for recombinant proteins. Main issues involved in selection of operations and process design are reviewed with particular emphasis on the challenges posed by recombinant proteins. This includes thermodynamic characterization of target protein and main contaminants, use of correlations and of expert knowledge for the development of an expert system for optimization and design (selection) of separation and purification (chromatographic) processes. The main deficiency in accurate information for rational process selection is in that required for high-resolution chromatographic processes. The authors show that a database with detailed information on properties of the main contaminants present in the fermentation streams of usual recombinant protein sources can be integrated to an expert system with an open architecture. This will allow more precise selection of unit operations for the design of protein purification processes.