Tangential flow depth filtration systems and methods of filtration using same
AssigneeRepligen Corporation
InventorsMichael Bransby, Derek Carroll
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present disclosure relates to hollow fiber tangential flow filters, including hollow fiber tangential flow depth filters, for various applications, including bioprocessing and pharmaceutical applications, systems employing such filters, and methods of filtration using the same.
Claims20
A bioprocessing system comprising:
- a bioreactor;
- a tangential flow depth filtration (TFDF) unit comprising a melt-blown thick-walled hollow fiber formed from at least one polymer and comprising a porous wall having a pore size and a density, the porous wall defining a lumen that is in fluid communication with the bioreactor;
- a permeate fluid outlet in fluid communication with the porous wall;
- and
- a pump in fluid communication with the lumen;
- wherein the density is between 51% and 56% of the density of an equivalent solid volume of the polymer.
A method of culturing cells in a perfusion bioreactor system comprising a culture vessel fluidly connected to a tangential flow depth filtration (TFDF) unit comprising a melt-blown thick-walled hollow fiber formed from at least one polymer and comprising a porous wall having a pore size and a density, the TFDF unit having a retentate channel and a filtrate channel, comprising the steps of:
- flowing a culture medium from the culture vessel through the retentate channel of the TFDF unit, whereby a fraction of the culture medium passes into the filtrate channel;
- and
- returning fluid from the retentate channel to the culture vessel;
- wherein (a) the culture medium comprises at least 60×106 cells/mL and (b) the method is performed for at least 8 consecutive days;
- wherein the density is between 51% and 56% of the density of an equivalent solid volume of the polymer.
A method of harvesting a biomaterial from a bioreactor system comprising a process vessel fluidly connected to a tangential flow depth filtration (TFDF) unit having a feed/retentate channel and a filtrate channel, comprising the steps of:
- pumping a culture medium comprising the biomaterial from the process vessel through the feed/retentate channel of the TFDF unit, whereby a fraction of the biomaterial passes into the filtrate channel;
- returning fluid from the feed/retentate channel to the process vessel;
- and
- collecting fluid from the filtrate channel;
- wherein the TFDF unit comprises a melt-blown thick-walled hollow fiber formed from a polymer and comprising a porous wall, the thick-walled hollow fiber having a density of about 53% of the density of an equivalent solid volume of the polymer, the porous wall defining a lumen of 3 mm to 7 mm that is in fluid communication with the feed/retentate channel, the porous wall having a thickness of about 5 mm;
- wherein the TFDF unit has a flux above about 400 L·m−2·hr−1;
- wherein the TFDF unit has a peak cell passage of under 5%;
- wherein a rate of sieving of the bioproduct is at least 99%.
A method of harvesting a bio material from a bioreactor system comprising a process vessel fluidly connected to a tangential flow depth filtration (TFDF) unit having a feed/retentate channel and a filtrate channel, comprising the steps of:
- flowing a culture medium through the feed/retentate channel of the TFDF unit, whereby a fraction of the culture medium passes into the filtrate channel;
- returning fluid from the feed/retentate channel to the process vessel;
- and
- collecting fluid from the filtrate channel;
- wherein the TFDF unit comprises a melt-blown thick-walled hollow fiber formed from at least one polymer and comprising a porous wall, the thick-walled hollow fiber having a density of about 53% of the density of an equivalent solid volume of the at least one polymer, the porous wall defining a lumen that is in fluid communication with the feed/retentate channel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.