Pall's New Ion Exchange Membrane Capsules Improve Biotechnology Process Economics

Pall Life Sciences introduces Mustang Q XT ion exchange chromatography capsules in a new re-usable format, offering flexibility and high performance for process chromatography. The open-pore structure of Mustang membrane makes these capsules especially useful in high flow rate contaminant removal applications and in the capture or removal of large molecules.

New Mustang Q XT capsules present a flexible solution to bioprocessing challenges. To improve process economics, the devices feature a highly durable polypropylene housing incorporating chemically-resistant polyethersulfone membrane for the stability needed in cleaning, re-use and long-term storage. Process developers may also integrate the disposable devices as single-use to avoid cleaning and cleaning revalidation.

Scalable Mustang Q XT capsules are available in 5 mL, 140 mL, and 5-liter volumes. Process capacities can be increased by linking units in parallel or series. Set-up is simple, and each device is 100% integrity tested before shipment for added assurance of quality performance.

Each Mustang Q XT capsule incorporates 16 layers of Mustang Q membrane for consistent performance and scale up. Mustang Q XT140 and XT5000 capsules employ Pall's patented Ultipleat high density pleating technology to maximize membrane volume while maintaining a small device footprint. This unique pleating technology also minimizes hold-up volume for enhanced chromatographic performance and significantly reduced buffer consumption.

Pall?s advanced Mustang membrane, with good wetting properties and low non-specific binding, enables fast mass transfer through convective pores and very high flow rates with no diffusion flow restrictions. This reduces processing time and maximizes throughput, allowing 30 to 50 times higher flow rates than traditional beaded column sorbents. Unlike beaded sorbents, dynamic binding capacity of Mustang membrane is independent of flow rate, meaning performance can be maintained over a wide range of flow rates and molecular sizes.

Mustang membrane is already proven in a wide range of regulatory approved processes and clinical trials for applications such as contaminant removal in polishing applications (host cell protein, DNA, virus, endotoxin) and the capture of large-target molecules (recombinant proteins, plasmids, viral vectors, and blood plasma fractions). The new Mustang Q XT family presents this proven membrane technology in a more robust and flexible format.