New Advances in Column Technology Spotlighted at the International Symposium on Chromatography

Scientists from the Xiamen University and the University of Edinburgh took the stage during a session at the International Symposium on Chromatography (ISC) in Liverpool, U.K. to highlight emerging chromatography column technologies. Developing better column technologies is important for more efficient and accurate separations. By leveraging novel materials and advanced fabrication techniques, researchers aim to push the boundaries of traditional column design and improve overall chromatographic performance. Their efforts not only focus on enhancing separation efficiency but also on achieving better reproducibility across columns.

Bo Zhang, associate professor from the Department of Chemistry at Xiamen University, kicked off the session with a discussion of chromatographic column orderliness achieved by bottom-up precision engineering. Over the past two decades, advancements in high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) have been driven by innovations in column technology, particularly through the development of new particulate materials such as sub-2-micron particles, core-shell particles, and colloidal crystals, according to Zhang. These breakthroughs have significantly expanded the possibilities for creating high-efficiency chromatographic columns. Achieving optimal column performance demands precise control over column packing at a microscopic level.

The researcher's hand shows the Cartridge column chromatography of the HPLC instrument. © S. Singha- stock.adobe.com

Zhang spoke about novel strategies for precision column-bed manufacturing, highlighting efforts like droplet microfluidics for assembling highly organized particle-packed beds and a centrifugal parallel packing strategy that enables the simultaneous fabrication of multiple columns, resulting in enhanced column-to-column reproducibility and performance consistency. With classical slurry packing it is hard to maintain dispersion and it is hard to convert orderliness, Zhang said. Additionally, this method has low reproducibility. But by leveraging new microfabrication tools, it is possible to achieve programmable control over particle sizes, morphologies, and chemistries, ushering in a new era of bottom-up column design.

Following Zhang’s presentation, Simone Dimartino of the University of Edinburgh spoke about 3D printed stationary phases for the downstream processing of therapeutic antibodies. Additive manufacturing, or 3D printing, offers a groundbreaking approach to fabricating chromatography stationary phases with customized 3D morphologies that surpass the capabilities of traditional packed beds made from spherical beads. Dimartino’s team showcased the use of 3D-printed stationary phases for the isolation and purification of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). 3D printing columns also have the potential to reduce costs by at least 30%, he said.

“Why do we do 3D printing of chromatography columns? Because if we have control over the morphology, we can increase the efficiency.” Dimartino said during the session at ISC.

Using a novel ink formulation that supports high-resolution printing and versatile surface chemistry, columns with 300 µm channels were fabricated and functionalized with protein A and SO3 ligands for affinity capture and cation exchange polishing steps, respectively. The protein A columns achieved impressive IgG recoveries above 85% and purities exceeding 98%, while maintaining consistent performance over 20 cycles, indicating excellent reusability and minimal protein A leakage.

These results highlight the potential of 3D-printed stationary phases in downstream bioprocessing, providing a versatile platform for the purification of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and other therapeutics. The demonstrated flexibility in surface chemistry and structural design opens new possibilities for further optimization, paving the way for transformative applications in the biomanufacturing of emerging therapies such as viral vectors, exosomes, and oligonucleotides. By enabling precise control over column architecture and functionality, 3D printing could redefine the standards of chromatographic separation and expand its capabilities beyon