Sartorius Stedim Biotech (SSB) is offering a new crossflow filtration system for process development in the biopharmaceutical industry.
SARTOFLOW Smart is a benchtop crossflow system designed for ultra- and diafiltration (UF/DF) applications in downstream processes, such as purification of vaccines, monoclonal antibodies and recombinant proteins. According to the manufacturer, the system is suitable for flexible use in laboratory environments for process development and clinical trials as well as for cGMP environments.
The crossflow system features a low shear four-piston membrane pump that provides a wide range of flow rates, allowing processors to choose between membrane surface areas from 50 square centimeters to as much as 0.14 square meters.
It also comes with SSB’s DCU-4 control unit which, when combined with the company’s BioPAT SCADA, MFCS-4 software, provides data logging and export. Its 7-inch touchscreen offers instant access to all critical process parameters and displays control and alarm functions, while a logbook function stores alarms, set points and user logs.
Using the touchscreen, operators can select predefined parameters to automatically run sequences for concentration, diafiltration, rinsing, filling, draining, flushing steps and tare functions.
Optional extras include a peristaltic diafiltration pump to load product or buffer as a discrete process step. A conductivity, pH or temperature probe can be installed in the recirculation vessel, and the system can also be upgraded to suit changing process requirements.
Dr. Marc Jenke, the company’s expert on benchtop crossflow filtration systems, described SARTOFLOW Smart as a “milestone development” in the field of small crossflow systems.
“It combines outstanding technology with options that are normally only available with process systems. With an exceptionally wide working range of membrane surface areas, the system is the perfect tool for both R&D optimization trials and cGMP production,” Dr. Jenke said.
