Table of Contents
Purifying therapeutic proteins is rarely a simple, one-step process. Especially for complex formats such as bispecific antibodies, workflows often require multiple stages to separate the desired molecule from mispaired chains and other product-related impurities. Traditional methods—single-channel FPLC systems or highly automated robotic platforms—offer partial solutions but are often either too slow, too rigid, or unsuitable for producing sufficient quantities. Automated chromatography systems like the ProteinMaker protein purification system address these challenges by enabling efficient, flexible, and scalable workflows that streamline protein purification across research and development environments.
The power of multi-step workflows
One of the most powerful features of automated chromatography systems is their ability to integrate complex, multi-step workflows within a single run.
Integrated multi-step purification
The ProteinMaker can automate sequential purification steps seamlessly. For example, an initial Protein A capture can be directly followed by cation exchange chromatography (CEX) or hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC), with eluates automatically reloaded into primed channels for the next step. This automation replaces manual intervention typical of single-channel FPLC systems. Workflows can be designed for two steps (e.g., 12x affinity and 12x IEX), three steps (8x affinity, 8x IEX, 8x HIC), or even four steps—though three- or four-step workflows remain primarily academic.
Seamless integration with downstream processes
Automated chromatography systems integrate effectively with other laboratory tools, creating a continuous and efficient workflow. For instance, the ProteinMaker can be combined with liquid handlers to automate buffer exchange after affinity purification. With smart buffer routing, buffer exchange could even be performed directly on the ProteinMaker, further reducing manual workload.
Serial polishing
Parallel purification on the ProteinMaker can be followed by serial polishing on common single-channel FPLC systems with an autosampler for preparative size exclusion chromatography (pSEC). This creates a semi-automated pipeline that balances throughput with the highest possible product quality. Depending on integration choices, some of these steps could also be executed on the ProteinMaker itself, making it adaptable to both existing infrastructure and evolving workflows.
The digital advantage: workflow and data management
Beyond physical throughput, digital integration is another core advantage of automated chromatography systems.
- Streamlined data capture and traceability: The ProteinMaker integrates with third-party or custom software via an API, enabling real-time workflow orchestration and sample traceability from harvest to storage.
- Informed decision-making: Analytical data such as UV traces or CE-SDS results are automatically processed and presented in user-friendly formats (e.g., histograms). With each channel having its own trace and allocated fractions, operators can make rapid, data-driven decisions about pooling and downstream processing.
Driving innovation in protein purification
Automated chromatography systems like the ProteinMaker chromatography system channels go far beyond simple, high-throughput purification. They provide the flexibility to design and execute complex, multi-step workflows while integrating seamlessly with digital and physical laboratory processes. By combining parallelisation, workflow automation, and data-driven decision-making, these systems dramatically enhance efficiency and throughput. As biopharmaceutical R&D increasingly depends on complex molecules and purification strategies, platforms like the ProteinMaker—developed by Protein Biosolutions and distributed by I&L Biosystems—will continue to play a central role in accelerating the development of next-generation therapeutics.