Chromatography-free recovery of biopharmaceuticals through aqueous two-phase processing

• Published in: Trends in biotechnology (Regular ed.) 2009-04, Vol.27 (4), p.240-247
• Main Authors: Azevedo, Ana M, Rosa, Paula A.J, Ferreira, I. Filipa, Aires-Barros, M. Raquel
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antibodies, Monoclonal - isolation & purification; Biological and medical sciences; Biopharmaceutics - methods; Biotechnology; Cell culture; Chemical Fractionation - methods; Cost reduction; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Growth factors; Hormones; Human Growth Hormone - isolation & purification; Humans; Insulin - isolation & purification; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1 - isolation & purification; Internal Medicine; Methods. Procedures. Technologies; Molecular weight; Others; Pharmaceutical industry; Pharmaceutical Preparations - isolation & purification; Polymers; Polymers - chemistry; Process controls; Productivity; Proteins; Various methods and equipments
• ISSN: 0167-7799; 1879-3096
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2009.01.004

The therapeutic use of proteins has created an increasing demand for feasible and economical methods for both up- and downstream processes. However, whereas upstream processes have attracted substantial investment and commercial attention, downstream processing has been overlooked, causing a production bottleneck that is shifting the costs of production. This review focuses on the use of aqueous two-phase extraction as an option for the downstream processing of therapeutic proteins. It is a potential and promising liquid–liquid extraction technique for the purification of biomolecules, such as monoclonal antibodies, growth factors and hormones, that combines a high selectivity and biocompatibility with an easy scale-up and continuous operation mode.