Ultrafiltration methods
AssigneeBioSpring Gesellschaft für Biotechnologie mbH
InventorHüseyin AYGÜN
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to methods for ultrafiltration of molecules of interest and to related uses, respectively, which advantageously employ osmolytes. Among others, the invention provides methods and uses for concentrating molecules of interest via ultrafiltration.
Claims21
A method for concentrating a solution comprising a molecule of interest via ultrafiltration, the method comprising a step of contacting the permeate side of the ultrafiltration membrane with a solution comprising an osmolyte having a molecular weight, or average molecular weight, that is higher than the molecular weight cut-off (MWCO) of the ultrafiltration membrane,
- wherein the solution on the permeate side of the ultrafiltration membrane has a higher osmolarity than the solution on the retentate side of the ultrafiltration membrane.
An ultrafiltration device for filtrating, particularly for concentrating, a solution comprising a molecule of interest, characterized in that the device comprises
- i) means for contacting the permeate side of the ultrafiltration membrane with a solution comprising an osmolyte having a molecular weight, or average molecular weight, that is higher than the MWCO of the ultrafiltration membrane, to increase flux through the ultrafiltration membrane;
- and/or
- ii) means for combining the ultrafiltration permeate with a solution comprising osmolytes having a molecular weight, or average molecular weight, that is higher than the MWCO of the ultrafiltration membrane, and optionally for circulating the resulting solution on the permeate side of the membrane;
- particularly wherein said means are characterized in that they do not return the permeate to the retentate side of the ultrafiltration membrane,
- especially wherein said means for circulation comprise a pump and a reservoir for the starting solution comprising said osmolytes,
- in particular wherein the device comprises said starting solution comprising said osmolytes, wherein said starting solution has a higher osmolarity than the starting solution comprising the molecule of interest to be ultrafiltrated with said device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.