Continuous Chromatography, Multi-Column and Integrated Bioprocessing
Sartorius Resolute® continuous chromatography systems are designed to reduce downstream processing bottlenecks, enabling seamless process transfer without compromising quality.
- Increase resin utilization and reduce the cost of chromatography operations
- Reduce the footprint of downstream processing equipment
- Minimize consumable and buffer usage
- Integrate and automate downstream processing
Continuous Chromatography Portfolio
Choosing the Right Continuous Chromatography Solution
Supporting Products & Services
Learn More About Continuous Chromatography
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Global Adoption of Sartorius Continuous Chromatography Solutions
Our continuous chromatography systems are used throughout the world in process development labs, clinical production suites, and commercial manufacturing production lines.
Who are they?
- Biologics innovators and manufacturers
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- mAbs, rProteins, mRNA, and vaccines
- Perfusion/continuous and fed batch processes
- 20+ clinical production facilities (using Resolute® BioSMB)
- Commercial processes
Frequently Asked Questions
Continuous chromatography is a method that uses multiple columns to operate a chromatography process. By using multiple columns, the system can process a product stream without interruption. In contrast to a single-column process, where loading | feed is typically paused to allow for washing and regeneration, continuous chromatography enables each column to perform different process steps simultaneously in a staggered manner. For instance, while one column is in the loading | feed step, another may be undergoing regeneration.
First, since the loading step is not interrupted, the feed material can be processed faster, and there are great benefits in time savings. Secondly, since multiple smaller columns are used for continuous chromatography, these columns are cycled more frequently, and thus, resin utilization is greatly increased. Finally, when two or more columns are placed sequentially in the loading zone, then greater capacities can be realized because product loss is captured on a secondary column.
All three of these factors can be tweaked during process development, resulting in the greatest benefit of continuous chromatography: flexibility. Continuous chromatography opens up the opportunity to optimize processes and product facilities for throughput, cost, or time, or all three.
When considering Resolute® BioSC and Resolute® BioSMB for manufacturing, the most significant difference is the type of flow path. The Resolute® BioSC features a multi-use flow path built from both stainless steel and polymers, while the Resolute® BioSMB 80 | 350 system uses a single-use flow kit. Additionally, the Resolute® BioSC is designed to support the simultaneous operation of multiple unit operations, such as chromatography, virus inactivation, and in-line dilution. In contrast, the Resolute® BioSMB is specifically optimized for high-efficiency capture chromatography processes.
A continuous chromatography process has minimal differences compared to a standard single-column process and typically requires only 1 to 2 days for new users to complete a transfer. Most of the effort involves confirming capacity, yield, and quality using models provided by Sartorius tools. Our team of application specialists has experience transferring hundreds of processes across a range of molecules and can support every step of your journey toward process intensification.
For the hundreds of processes our customers have developed using continuous chromatography, there has not been a single instance where a quality risk could not be addressed. The standard industry approach to pharmaceutical process development is risk-based, and continuous chromatography is no exception. When core parameters are properly investigated and verified, quality is expected—and has been shown—to remain consistent when transitioning from single-column to continuous chromatography.