Tangential Flow Filtration(TFF) System
Jump Pump
FIT Integrity Tester
High Pressure Homogenizers
Microfluidics
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China Suppliers of Challenge HF® Hollow Fiber Cartridges for Superior Biopharmaceutical Separation and Purification Factory Solutions
Applications
Harvest, Clarification, Separation and Purification, Concentration, Diafiltration, Buffer Exchange, Microfiltration Trials.
Products
Antibody, Vaccines, Gene Therapeutics, Blood Products, Diagnostic Reagents (IVD), Antibiotics, Biochemicals, Natural Products (TCM), Exosomes, Synthetic Biology, Stem Cells.
Application Cases
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Cell/Microorganism Retention and Perfusion Culture
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High-Density Suspension Culture of Mammalian Cells
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Clarification (Replacing Centrifugation and Depth Filtration)
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Viral Vector Purification
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Concentration and Buffer Exchange of Viral Vectors
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Protein/Antibody Concentration and Diafiltration
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Buffer Exchange
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Separation and Purification of Enzymes and Nucleic Acids
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Desalting, Purification, and Concentration of Various Macromolecular Biologics
Membrane Material
The Modified Polyethersulfone (mPES) hollow fiber membranes provided by Challenge IM achieve comprehensive performance enhancements through proprietary modification technology: faster hydrophilicity, higher flux, extremely low non-specific protein adsorption, excellent mechanical strength and chemical stability, and very low leachables levels, providing assurance for your product safety and compliance.
MWCO (Pore Size or MWCO) Selection
Classified into two main categories based on pore size: Ultrafiltration membranes standardized by Molecular Weight Cut-Off (MWCO, 1-750KD), and Microfiltration membranes standardized by pore size (0.1-1μm).
Permeation
The pore size or MWCO should be at least 5-10 times larger than the target molecule.
Retention
The pore size or MWCO should be 1/3 to 1/5 of the target molecule's molecular weight.
Fiber Inner Diameter
Challenge IM offers hollow fiber cartridges with standard fiber inner diameters of 0.5mm and 1.0mm. Reducing the fiber ID increases the membrane packing density per unit filter, thereby increasing membrane surface area and throughput, but it may increase shear effects during fluid circulation.
1.0mm Filters
Mostly used for processing materials with high cell density, high solid content, or high viscosity.
0.5mm Filters
Can be used for most application scenarios to improve mass transfer efficiency.
Effective Length
The effective length of the fibers inside the hollow fiber cartridges determine the flow path length, which is related to parameters such as pressure drop across the filter (influencing the filtration driving force).
Scale-Up Recommendation
The effective length must remain consistent for direct scale-up. Changing the length will significantly alter pressure drop and internal flow fields, preventing linear scale-up. Generally, when processing highly fouling or high-viscosity fluids, it is recommended to choose filters with a shorter effective length.
Shear Force
The circulation flow rate of hollow fiber cartridges need to be set by considering the shear tolerance of the process fluid. It is typically 2000-10000 s⁻¹, which is far less than the shear force generated by turbulence on the screen surface of membrane cassettes.
General Fluids: Recommended control at 4000-6000 s⁻¹.
Shear-Sensitive Fluids: (e.g., Lentivirus, large proteins expressed by animal cells, LNPs, etc.) Recommended to reduce to approximately 2000 s⁻¹.
Shear-Tolerant Fluids: (e.g., small proteins expressed by bacteria) Can be increased to 8000-10000 s⁻¹.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What is the advantage of Modified Polyethersulfone (mPES) hollow fiber membranes?
A: The mPES hollow fiber membranes from Challenge IM offer enhanced performance through proprietary modification technology. They provide faster hydrophilicity, higher flux, extremely low non-specific protein adsorption, excellent mechanical strength, chemical stability, and very low leachables levels to ensure product safety and compliance.
Q: How do I determine the correct MWCO for target molecule retention?
A: For optimal retention, the pore size or MWCO of the hollow fiber membrane should be selected at 1/3 to 1/5 of the target molecule's molecular weight.
Q: When should I choose a 0.5mm vs. a 1.0mm fiber inner diameter?
A: 0.5mm fiber inner diameter filters are suitable for most standard applications to optimize mass transfer efficiency. 1.0mm filters are recommended for processing materials with high cell density, high solid content, or high viscosity to prevent clogging.
Q: Why must the effective length remain consistent during scale-up?
A: The effective length determines the flow path and pressure drop across the filter. Changing the length alters the internal flow dynamics and pressure profile, which prevents accurate linear scale-up.
Q: What shear force settings are recommended for shear-sensitive biological materials?
A: For shear-sensitive fluids (such as Lentiviruses, LNPs, or large proteins expressed by animal cells), it is recommended to reduce the shear rate to approximately 2000 s⁻¹ to protect the structural integrity of the molecules.