Prepacked columns

Liquid chromatography

Liquid chromatography is an analytical or preparative technique that isolates components from complex mixtures. The mobile phase, in this case a liquid, flows through the stationary phase, which can be a column packed with resin or another matrix, such as electrospun cellulose fibers. Chromatography helps purify and analyze biomolecules based on characteristics such as shape, size, charge, molecular structure, and binding affinity to the stationary phase.

Chromatography in life science

Chromatography is used in life-science research and manufacturing applications. It can be used to purify and analyze biomolecules such as monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and other proteins, nucleic acids, plasmids, and viral vectors, such as adeno-associated virus (AAV) for gene therapy.

Chromatography columns

Chromatography columns contain the stationary phase and are used with a syringe or with an automated chromatography system. They vary widely in size and scale to support use in life-science research and manufacturing applications. Some are single use and some are used repeatedly, with cleaning and sanitization between uses. Cytiva offers both prepacked and empty columns.

Prepacked columns FAQs

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about prepacked chromatography columns.

Prepacked columns come pre-filled with the stationary phase to allow direct attachment to your chromatography system. They’re available in a variety of sizes and resin combinations. Cytiva’s columns are expertly packed and validated for use before delivery.

The columns contain resins for use in affinity chromatography, hydrophobic interaction chromatography, ion exchange chromatography, size-exclusion chromatography, reversed-phase chromatography, immunoprecipitation, multimodal chromatography, and desalting.

We offer columns prepacked with resins for chromatography methods including:

• Hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC) – separates or purifies proteins or other biomolecules based on differences in surface hydrophobicity.
• Multimodal or mixed-mode chromatography (MM) – purifies proteins or other biomolecules in a capture or polishing step. MM resins use ligands capable of multiple interactions, which is useful for target molecules without a known specificity.
• Size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) – also known as gel filtration. It uses a gel medium to separate proteins by size. With SEC, molecules don’t bind to the chromatography resin.
• Affinity chromatography (AC) – separates molecules using a strong but reversible interaction between a target protein or other biomolecule and a specific ligand.
• Ion exchange chromatography (IEX) – separates molecules based on the reversible interaction between a charged protein and an oppositely charged chromatography resin.

Each column goes through strict quality control to ensure low variation from batch to batch, and columns are validated for use. Other advantages include:

• They save column-packing time.
• They facilitate speedy chromatography process set-up times.
• They’re packed to the same specifications and rigorously tested to support reproducible results.

There are many options for proteins and other types of molecules. Our Purify app will guide you through the process for identifying a suitable product.