Rejection of DNA, Protein-DNA Complexes and Chromatin by Hollow Fiber Membranes

Virus and DNA removal in bio-drug manufacturing processes has received a great deal of attention in recent years. Removing of a virus using a membrane process is a promising method, because inactivated virus can be removed from the bio-drug and the process can be used as an additional and security inactivation after the method of general heat-inactivation of the virus in the bio-drug. The FDA and the biopharmaceutical industry have recently announced strict guidelines for impurities of virus and DNA contamination. The regulatory guidelines on residual amounts of DNA in mammalian cell culture products require DNA contamination of less than 100 pg/dose. Therefore, permeation and rejection of DNA through the porous membranes have become important in the application of DNA removal in bio-drug manufacturing using membrane technology. In this study, the permeation of DNA and chromatin through regenerated cellulose hollow fibers that have a mean pore diameter of 15 nm was investigated.