Applications
Ion Exchange Chromatography is the most widely used chromatographic mode in biopurification and applied in most downstream processing platforms. The typical scheme in IEX of binding the target, washing the column and eluting the target is called ’bind/elute mode’ and is often applied in intermediate purification steps for example in downstream processing of antibodies. Anion Exchange Chromatography is an integral part of most plasma protein purification platforms, such as Factor VIII purification.
In other cases it may be more advantageous to select conditions at which the target molecule will pass through the column unbound while the impurities will bind. This mode of binding is often referred to as "flow through mode" and it is most typically used with anion exchangers to remove DNA, endotoxins, and other negatively charged species while letting your target molecule to flow through the column.
TOYOPEARL® and TSKgel® IEC Resins
Tosoh Bioscience provides a broad range of strong and weak ion exchangers for anion and cation exchange chromatogaraphy. The terms “strong” and “weak” refer to the acid/base properties of the functional group. A strong ion exchange resin will have the same charge density on its surface over a broad pH range, whereas the charge density of a weak ion exchanger changes with pH. The selectivity and the capacity of a weak ion exchanger are different at different pH values.
The type of ion exchange resin that will work best for a particular process will depend on the variance in the ionization state of the functional groups at different pH values. When developing a purification process, it is usually recommended that the chromatographer begin with a strong ion exchanger (e.g., quaternary amine, sulfonic acid, or sulfopropyl), and then to try a weak ion exchanger (e.g., DEAE or carboxymethyl) if the selectivity is unsatisfactory.
TOYOPEARL® ion exchange resins are functionalized versions of the TOYOPEARL® HW size exclusion resins and are therefore based on hydroxylated polymethacrylic polymer beads. The TSKgel® IEC resins use the same methacrylic polymer chemistry as the TOYOPEARL® resins but have a higher degree of crosslinking, making for a more rigid bead.
The TOYOPEARL GigaCap® series of high capacity ion exchange resins provides a broad range of weak and strong anion and cation exchange resins for a variety of applications.