the intelligent membrane filtration system - GE Healthcare Life ...

ÄKTAcrossflow – the intelligent
membrane filtration system
ÄKTAcrossflow is a fully automated
filtration system for cross flow membrane
screening and process development.
It is also the first system to enable
automation at small-scale, with capacity
ranging from liters down to 25 ml,
making it useful for research and protein
preparation. The compact design fits
neatly onto a bench top and the system
works with a broad range of applications
from microfiltration to ultrafiltration.
ÄKTAcrossflow, developed together with a biopharmaceutical
manufacturer, is the latest member of the ÄKTAdesign family,
and extends the UNICORN controlled platform into membrane
filtration. The system comprises a separation unit built with
ÄKTAdesign components for reliability, flexibility and scalability.
UV, pH and conductivity detectors as well as air, pressure, and
temperature sensors are all part of the unit. Electronically
actuated diaphragm valves reduce hold-up volumes and prevent
dead volumes. The compact, space-saving, bench top system
is ideal for a broad range of applications, and has the ability to
operate either hollow fiber cartridges or cassettes.
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Fast, secure and automated
The UNICORN control software monitors and captures sensor data
and real-time parameter trends; while method wizards provide
easy method generation. This combination of control during cross
flow processing and the automatic handling and evaluation of
data ensures complete mastery of cross flow processes.
One of the benefits of working with ÄKTAcrossflow is the significant
amount of time that can be saved during process development.
Results are delivered by UNICORN in just a few hours compared
to weeks when working with manual systems, while human error
is eliminated from the task of transferring data to spreadsheets.
Moreover, UNICORN allows efficient data evaluation and
provides full tracking and documentation of processes (Fig 1).
UNICORN complies fully with all applicable regulations, including
21 CFR Part 11.

Protects sample
ÄKTAcrossflow offers the highest level of protection for your
sample. The system has three high precision metering pumps
that operate over the entire flow/viscosity range without the need
for flowmeters. The verified pump design minimizes shear forces,
ensuring that sensitive cellular material is not damaged. Moreover,
heat transfer from the pump heads to the process fluid is so low
that cooling is unnecessary. The feed pump features four pump
heads for gentle and pulsation-free circulation of sensitive process
fluids at rates up to 600 ml/min. The transfer and permeate pumps
allow for 200 ml/min pulsation-free flow.
Sanitary design
The pump heads have a sanitary design with a self-contained
rinsing system to prevent contamination and pump damage.
Valve units are also sanitarily designed, with EPDM membranes for
high chemical resistance. The valve blocks include multiple valves
to minimize hold up volumes. The system is effectively sanitized
with 1 M sodium hydroxide (NaOH) which has demonstrated
high efficiency in microbial challenge tests, fulfilling the USP 27
requirements of log 6 reduction of colony forming units.
A more efficient way of working
The ÄKTAcrossflow system with UNICORN control supports the
process control modes commonly used in ultrafiltration and
microfiltration applications such as TMP control and flux control
(Fig 2). These control modes can be combined with selectable feed
pump instructions, such as feed flow rate, feed pressure, Delta P,
retentate flow rate or shear rate. UNICORN also reports real-time
process parameters such as retentate volume, concentration factor,
diafiltration exchange factor, and accumulated permeate volume.
The networking capabilities with UNICORN/OPC allow for flexibility in
process design and total process control. As the cross flow process
is scaled up, the ÄKTAcrossflow system can communicate with the
UNICORN controlled manufacturing cross flow skid, just as the
ÄKTApilot system can communicate with the BioProcess skid.
UNICORN links the unit operations to create one fluid process.
ÄKTAcrossflow uniting processes
GE Healthcare’s long experience and expertise in automated
chromatography procedures can now be transferred to cross flow
filtration to provide an integrated process solution with the familiar
and proven UNICORN platform. Figure 3 shows an integrated
process for plasmid purification combining ÄKTAcrossflow and
ÄKTAexplorer systems.
In summary
ÄKTAcrossflow is providing a small revolution in filtration. By
building UNICORN into the system, filtration processes can now
be automated allowing the operator to be in full control of the
process, and get results in a matter of hours.
Fig 1. UNICORN fulfills stringent control and data
handling procedures.
Fig 2. Raw data recorded from process optimization for
BSA concentration/diafiltration using TMP scouting with
100g/l and 20g/l BSA solutions.
Fig 3. An integrated plasmid purification workflow
using ÄKTAcrossflow and ÄKTAexplorer. For process
development, the PlasmidSelect process can purify over
100 mg of plasmid DNA in a single run on ÄKTAcrossflow
and ÄKTAexplorer systems. For production scales, an
integrated process using UniFlux and ÄKTAprocess
systems can provide several kilograms of supercoiled
plasmid DNA.
Further information
Data File
ÄKTAcrossflow automated cross flow filtration
for process development, Code No. 11-0032-71
Brochure
ÄKTAcrossflow Putting the ”brain” into
membrane screening, Code No. 11-0034-87
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