(3D-printed monolith design; Image courtesy of Precision Chroma)
From clogged vacuum cleaners to fish tank filter nightmares, filter clogging plagues a surprising range of applications. Porous filtering systems, the workhorses of everything from home appliances to life science research, eventually succumb to the issue of large particles getting lodged in their pores. This not only impacts the performance of your trusty vacuum or fish tank but can also significantly hinder the separation of delicate biological protein mixtures in chromatography columns. Fine-structured chromatography columns that allow preferential separation of analytes tend to clog as extraneous particles accumulate during repeated use.
In this interview, I had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Sean Feast about a potential solution to this challenge. Feast is CEO of Precision Chroma, a New Zealand-based company pioneering a novel approach to protein purification using 3D-printed chromatography columns. Precision Chroma's technology, known as Printed Monolith Adsorption (PMA), has features that promise to permit bio-separations without issues of pore clogging.
While the work of Precision Chroma is focused on protein purification applications of chromatography, the overlap between the purification chromatography and analytical separations is such that I thought this technology would be of interest to readers in the measurement science space.
Origins of the Technology
In fact, the origins of the concepts used by Precision Chroma come from the theoretical underpinnings and simulations of analytical chromatography. With the advent and broad use of 3D-printing technologies, some of the theoretical possibilities for chromatography packed-bed structures became a reality.
Feast began work on this research topic several years ago at the University of Canterbury under the direction of Dr. Conan Fee. Professor Fee's lab has been heavily involved in research on 3D-printed chromatography stationary phases for many years. As Feast continued to work on this topic in the Fee lab, it became apparent that there was a commercially viable opportunity for 3D-printed chromatography.
Recognizing the transformative potential of this technology, Sean founded Precision Chroma to translate their academic breakthroughs into practical solutions for the biopharmaceutical industry. The company's flagship product, Printed Monolith Adsorption (PMA) columns, has the potential to redefine the protein purification process.
Overcoming Traditional Limitations with PMA Technology
Traditional protein purification often involves multiple, time-consuming steps, including clarification and multiple chromatography stages. Precision Chroma's PMA technology offers a streamlined approach by combining these steps into a single, one-step process. Instead of performing multiple pre-column filtration steps, the messy biological materials can be introduced to the PMA column without show-stopping clogs or back-pressure increases.
In the late 1990s, the technology of fluidized beads, in the form of expanded bed adsorption (EBA), promised to help address such issues. However, the technology failed in the scale-up aspect and hit many practical snags that scuttled the technology as a viable large-scale commercial tool for protein purification.
The new PMA technology, in contrast, is a monolith with a repeating three-dimensional channel structure. This structure design provides superior flow distribution and separation efficiency compared to traditional packed columns. In addition, the materials of construction can be chosen from among cellulose, agarose hydrogels, or even inorganic materials. This flexibility in construction enables Precision Chroma to make optimized columns for a variety of applications.
As an example of the ability to perform chromatography on messy materials, Precision Chroma has been able to perform chromatography on cell-laden culture expressing IgG (see image below). They have also been able to introduce 50% wet-weight of yeast cells in solution to their column and perform chromatography on the material without chromatography clogs.
(Left tube, cell-filled antibody culture material; Right tube, material after purification through PMA column without any pre-filtration. Image courtesy of Precision Chroma)
A Solution for the Analytical Customer, Too?
While Precision Chroma primarily focuses on protein purification, the underlying principles of PMA technology have broader implications for analytical chromatography. The ability to create precisely engineered chromatographic media with controlled channel sizes and flow paths offers new possibilities for improving separation efficiency, resolution, and speed in analytical applications.
Currently, the printing technology does not provide the smaller channel size needed for optimal analytical separations. However, as 3D-printing technology continues to improve, it is possible that such columns may become a reality in the future.
Challenges and the Road Ahead
Like many startups, Precision Chroma faces challenges of growth, recognition, and expansion. Precision knows that collaboration with larger industry partners and CDMOs is crucial to developing the right product. As a result, Precision Chroma is actively seeking partnerships with academic institutions, research organizations, and industry partners to explore new applications and expand the reach of this innovative technology.
Additionally, as a New Zealand-based company, Precision Chroma will be looking to establish manufacturing and distribution in other locations around the world, including the United States. Again, finding the right partners will be the key to success in this endeavor.
What does the future hold? By breaking the mold with 3D-printed chromatography, Precision Chroma has the opportunity to make changes in the protein purification paradigm. For Sean Feast, having the opportunity to develop technology that can ultimately make drug development and production more cost effective is a dream waiting to be realized.
Visit Precision Chroma's website at precision-chroma.com to learn more about their technology.
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