Analytical and Preparative Methods for Purification of Antibodies

Djuro Josić¹ and Yow-Pin Lim<sup>2

1</sup> Octapharma Pharmazeutika Produktionsges. mbH, Oberlaaer str. 235, A-1100 Vienna, Austria
²Dept. of Medical Oncology/Rhode Island Hospital-Brown University, Providence, R.I., USA

Article history:
Received May 4, 2001
Accepted June 20, 2001

Key words:
monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies, IgG, IgM, purification, chromatographic methods

Summary:
Monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies play a key role in medicine as well as in analytical biotechnology. After being used predominantly for analytical purposes over the last 20 years, the number of therapeutical applications is growing fast. This review describes methods for purification of antibodies on an analytical scale in the laboratory, as well as on a preparative scale in industrial production. The classical methods of precipitation and the modern chromatographic methods are described. Methods of precipitation are still widely used in the production of immunoglobulins G (IgG) from human plasma. The chromatographic methods, often in combination with precipitation for the sake of initial purification, are the almost exclusively used methods in the production of monoclonal antibodies. The chromatographic methods are sub-divided into non-affinity and affinity modes. The most widely used methods are presented and discussed.

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