Tangential Flow Filtration (TFF): Optimizing Biopharma Downstream Processing

For downstream operation, timing plays an important role. Clogged filter impact directly the duration of the filtration process and can negatively affect the folding properties of the targeted molecule; therefore, the capacity to provide in the end the expected healing effect. This is the reason why in biopharma DSP the method of choice is the tangential flow filtration (TFF), also named as cross-flow filtration. In contrast to a dead-end impact filter, where the product flows perpendicular to the filter and is susceptible to clogging, TFF operates with the product stream moving parallel to the filter. This facilitates the maintenance of solids in solution and limits the accumulation of a "filter cake", which can contaminate the membrane. TFF enables a continuous and gradual concentration process, which permits samples to be concentrated up to 2.5 times faster as opposed to when using dead-end filtration.