At the moment ion exchanger resins display the highest binding capacities for proteins. Polymeric surface modification methods utilize the full pore space and allow to guarantee high capacities for small as well as for large proteins. Capacity maximization is also possible by pore size optimization fitting the pore size to the molecule size without loosing a lot of dynamic binding capacity under current process conditions. Further improvements of resins can be achieved by optimizing the pore structure and pore volume, which could enhance the mass transfer and so the dynamic binding capacity.

The mPEG-aldehyde PEGylation with two different PEG sizes and two proteins was experimentally determined with respect to yield, conversion, and selectivity. The kinetic behavior of these PEGylation reactions was simulated using a numerically solved set of differential equations. We show that the assumption of an inactivation of mPEG-aldehyde is crucial for the simulation of the overall PEGylation and that the inactivation is pH-dependent. We further demonstrate that ideal PEGylation parameters such as pH, temperature, reaction time, and protein concentration need to be chosen carefully depending on the protein and PEG size. In terms of selectivity and yield, we show that the reaction should be stopped before the highest mono-PEG concentration is reached. Moreover, room temperature and a slightly acidic pH of approximately 6 are good starting points. In conclusion, selectivity can be optimized choosing a shorter reaction time and a reduced reaction temperature.

Size exclusion chromatography is a standard method in quality control of biopharmaceutical proteins. In contrast, vaccine analysis is often based on activity assays. The hemagglutination assay is a widely accepted influenza quantification method, providing no insight in the size distribution of virus particles. Capabilities of size exclusion chromatography to complement the hemagglutination assay are investigated. The presented method is comparatively robust regarding different buffer systems, ionic strength and additive concentrations. Addition of 200mM arginine or sodium chloride is necessary to obtain complete virus particle recovery. 0.5 and 1.0M arginine increase the hydrodynamic radius of the whole virus particles by 5nm. Sodium citrate induces virus particle aggregation. Results are confirmed by dynamic light scattering. Retention of a H1N1v strain correlates with DNA contents between 5ng/mL and 670ng/mL. Quantitative elution of the virus preparations is verified on basis of hemagglutination activity. Elution of hemagglutination inducing compounds starts at a flow channel diameter of 7000nm. The universal applicability is demonstrated with three different influenza virus samples, including an industrially produced, pandemic vaccine strain. Size distribution of the pandemic H1N1v 5258, H1N1 PR/8/34, and H3N2 Aichi/2/68 preparations spreads across inter- and intra-particle volume and extends to the secondary interaction dominated range. Thus, virus particle debris seems to induce hemagglutination. Fragments generated by 0.5% Triton™ X-100 treatment increase overall hemagglutination activity.

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