Agilent Technologies Introduces BioHPLC Columns for Characterization of Bio-Molecules

With the addition of these new bio-columns, we can now offer our customers significant improvements in charge-based and size-based analytical separations of bio-molecules, said Helen Stimson, vice president and general manager of Agilent's Consumables and Supplies Division. The new columns greatly expand our current bio-columns portfolio, which also include reverse phase columns for intact protein separations and peptide mapping.

Each new column is individually tested with protein samples to ensure column-to-column and batch-to-batch reproducibility. The four new column families and their benefits include:

* Agilent Bio SEC-3 size exclusion columns, packed with a robust 3µm particle, which offers higher resolution and faster separation times, specifically for the analysis of monoclonal antibody aggregates;
* Agilent Bio SEC-5 size exclusion columns, packed with 5µm particles coated with a neutral, hydrophilic coating, making the particle extremely stable under harsh buffer conditions;
* Agilent Bio MAb columns, featuring a weak cation exchange (WCX) resin specifically designed for high-resolution separations of monoclonal antibody charge variants; and
* Agilent Bio IEX columns, designed for high-resolution, high-recovery and highly efficient separations of proteins, peptides, oligonucleotides and other bio-molecules.

Size exclusion chromatography is commonly used for the analysis of protein aggregation when proteins bind together to form a larger complex. Ion exchange chromatography is regularly used to monitor the reproducibility of protein manufacturing. Charge variants are carefully monitored, specifically glycosylation and deamidation, to ensure safety and efficacy.