Quantitative Analysis of Protein Fouling in Virus Removal Filtration Membranes Through Electron Tomography.

ABSTRACT: Protein fouling can significantly reduce the filtrate flux, capacity, and virus retention during processing of plasma- or mammalian cell-derived biopharmaceuticals through virus removal filters. We use focused ion beam (FIB) milling and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to directly evaluate changes in 3D pore structure in a Viresolve^® Pro membrane due to fouling by human serum immunoglobulin G. Protein fouling causes a significant reduction in the membrane porosity, which decreases by approximately 40% in the size-selective region near the exit of the highly asymmetric Viresolve^® Pro membrane after the filter is fouled to 90% flux decline. There is a corresponding reduction in the number of small pores by more than a factor of two. Model simulations of flow and parti

SUBMITTER: Afzal MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12734478 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature