Sartorius Launches New Laboratory-Focused Tangential Flow Filtration Cassettes

Tangential flow filtration (TFF), also known as crossflow filtration, is used to clarify process fluids, including cell culture media, and concentrate and buffer exchange macromolecules, including proteins, viruses, nucleic acids, and nanoparticles. Unlike other filtration systems, TFF passes the fluid parallel to the filter (2), rather than pushing fluids through a perpendicular membrane, which can clog the filter media. A pump provides positive pressure to recirculate a sample between the cassette and a feed reservoir, driving continuous separation of particles or macromolecules (feed and retentate) from the liquid (permeate) based on their size or molecular weight. The constant flow of feed and retentate also creates low shear stresses at the membrane surface, effectively preventing fouling, polarization, and blocking.

While this technique originates from commercial manufacturing, it has become increasingly relevant and popular in research laboratories, where larger sample (feed) volumes need to be processed. Sartorius, in an effort to capitalize on TFF’s growth, have released Vivaflow® TFF Cassettes. The company claims that these will simplify TFF for researchers needing to prioritize efficiency over complexity. These cassettes are available in reusable and single-use formats, with their most comprehensive selection of membrane materials and molecular weight cut-offs (MWCOs). According to the company’s press release, with these materials, “you can always find the right solution for effortless concentration and buffer exchange of any molecule from 0.1 to 5 L feed volumes” (1).

Vivaflow® is designed specifically for laboratory use, with its unique design allowing for fast and intuitive set-up and efficient ultrafiltration and diafiltration (UF|DF) using only a peristaltic pump; this eliminates the need to optimize feed flow rates, transmembrane pressures, and filtrate flux. In turn, costs and user efforts are substantially reduced, while ensuring high process speeds and maximum target recoveries.

To learn more about Vivaflow® and Sartorius’ new approach to TFF, click here.

References

(1) Vivaflow® Tangential Flow Filtration (TFF) Cassettes. Sartorius AG 2024. https://www.sartorius.com/en/products/lab-filtration-purification/ultrafiltration-devices/tangential-crossflow?utm_source=lcgc&utm_medium=extstam&utm_campaign=lab-filtration-foundational&utm_term=NPI-vivaflow-su&mrksrc=thirdparty&utm_content=product-page (accessed 2024-9-11)

(2) What is Tangential Flow Filtratoin (TFF) and Where is it Used? SaniSure 2021. https://tblplastics.com/tangential-flow-filtration-tff/ (accessed 2024-9-11)