POROS and CaptureSelect Chromatography

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Maximize efficiency with CaptureSelect and POROS chromatography

As therapeutic modalities emerge, traditional purification methods may no longer meet the performance requirements for increasingly complex biomolecules. A molecule’s structure, stability, binding behavior, or impurity profile often requires multiple chromatography steps, reducing overall recovery and process efficiency.

 

CaptureSelect and POROS chromatography technologies offer high-performance resins that streamline purification workflows. These resins are designed to facilitate fewer process steps, improved binding specificity, and reproducible performance from early process development through commercial scale-up. By enhancing purification efficiency and product consistency, these technologies help accelerate development timelines and facilitate a faster transition to clinical and commercial manufacturing.

CaptureSelect technology

CaptureSelect technology is based on camelid single-domain antibody fragments (VHH) derived from heavy chain immunoglobulins of camelids. During ligand discovery, hundreds of VHH candidates are screened to identify those with optimal target affinity and often mild elution, and stability for cleaning and storage. The selected ligand is then conjugated to a resin backbone, creating a high-performance chromatographic resin that facilitates high yield and purity in a single step. Produced in Baker’s yeast, these animal origin–free (AOF) ligands can be integrated into the development and manufacturing process for antibodies, recombinant proteins, and viral vectors.

CaptureSelect technology

POROS technology

POROS resins use poly(styrene-divinylbenzene) as the backbone of the beads. It offers a rigid, chemically stable structure that enables durability and consistent chromatographic performance. Large throughpores minimize mass transfer resistance, maintaining high capacity and resolution across a wide range of flow rates for more efficient purification. The 50-micron bead size allows superior resolution, excellent pressure–flow characteristics, and scalable performance from development to production.

 

POROS technology

See POROS technology in action

Thermo Fisher Scientific POROS resins are part of a broad portfolio of Thermo Scientific purification products including cation and anion exchange, and hydrophobic interaction resins.

Discover how rigid, large-pore beads support high-flow purification.
 

Purification workflows with CaptureSelect and POROS resins

CaptureSelect and POROS technologies can work together to develop optimal purification processes. The target specificity and elution profiles of CaptureSelect affinity resins allow for results in high yield and purity in a single capture step, while the POROS backbone can be leveraged for its high capacity, resolution, and scalability across a wide range of flowrates. Together, CaptureSelect and POROS resins support effective, efficient, reliable purification workflows from cell culture harvest to fill and finish for therapeutic antibodies, proteins, and emerging modalities.

Enhance capture performance with CaptureSelect resins


The increasing diversity of therapeutic molecules introduces challenges in process design. CaptureSelect resins offer domain-specific binding and mild elution, helping preserve product integrity and yield. The robust AOF production process supports cGMP applications. Available with a POROS or agarose backbone, highly specific affinity chromatography steps can be implemented from development to manufacturing for efficient target molecule recovery or reduction of a particular impurity.

Enhance polishing with POROS resins

As product titers increase, polishing steps can limit throughput if capacity and resolution are low. POROS chromatography resins maintain capacity and separation across a wide range of linear velocities. Their rigid bead structure supports high capacity, stability, and consistent performance during large-scale purification of monoclonal antibodies, recombinant proteins, peptides, and enzymes.

 

Streamline chromatography workflows to maintain performance

Streamline chromatography workflows to maintain performance

Simplify downstream processes with chromatography resins

Affinity chromatography resins


Affinity chromatography enables capture with high purity and yield in one step. While commonly used for antibodies, CaptureSelect technology also supports bispecific antibodies, fragments, Fc-fusion proteins, recombinant proteins, and viral vectors.
 

Hydrophobic interaction chromatography resins

Hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC) separates biomolecules based on hydrophobicity. Commonly applied as a polishing step, HIC improves purification where charge-based methods are limited, enhancing overall product purity and consistency.

Ion exchange chromatography resins

Ion exchange chromatography (IEX) separates biomolecules through charge interactions with functional groups. Available in strong and weak base or acid chemistries, these resins are suitable for bind/elute or flow- through purification of antibodies, vaccines, viral vectors, and other biologics.

Mixed-mode chromatography resin

Mixed-mode chromatography combines ion exchange and hydrophobic interactions within a single chemistry to improve selectivity in complex samples. POROS mixed-mode cation-exchange resin is designed for flow-through polishing, reducing aggregates, host cell proteins, and other impurities.

Custom chromatography resins


To address complex purification challenges, specific chromatography resins can be developed. Our team collaborates to develop chromatography solutions with customizable affinity ligands or polishing chemistries, and bead structures from bench to manufacturing scale.

Explore more chromatography resins

Chromatography resins include affinity, IEX, HIC, and mixed-mode formats. They support reproducible performance from screening tools to cGMP production, enhancing processes across purification steps and scales.


 

Supporting diverse modalities and applications

ADCs

Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs) workflows rely on chromatography steps to separate complex conjugates and reduce impurities. These approaches support consistent production of ADCs for therapeutic research and biomanufacturing.
 

Cell Therapy

Cell therapies utilize living cells as treatments, necessitating strict control over inputs and processing steps. Chromatography is applied to prepare ancillary materials, such as cytokines or viral vectors, that are used during cell manufacturing.
 

Gene Therapy

Gene therapy often relies on viral vectors, such as adeno-associated virus (AAV) or lentivirus, to facilitate the transfer of genetic material. Chromatography separates drug product from product- and process-related impurities in both capture and polishing steps.

mAbs

Monoclonal antibody purification typically starts with Protein A chromatography to capture the antibody from cell culture fluid. Additional steps, such as ion exchange, are used to help reduce aggregates, variants, or process-related impurities.
 

mRNA

Chromatography in mRNA production separates full-length transcripts from double-stranded RNA and truncated products. The purified RNA can then be used in formulation or downstream steps, such as lipid nanoparticle assembly.
 

Vaccines

Chromatography is often used in vaccine manufacturing for both the capture and polishing of the vaccine drug product. The choice of method depends on the platform, for example, protein subunits, viral vectors, or nucleic acid vaccines.
 

Frequently asked questions

CaptureSelect and POROS technologies are designed to purify biomolecules with high specificity and reproducibility. CaptureSelect resins use single-domain antibody ligands to target specific molecules under mild conditions, while POROS resins feature rigid, large-pore beads that enable excellent resolution, desirable pressure-flow characteristics, and scalability from process development through cGMP manufacturing. Together, they enable high-performing purification processes across diverse biologics.

CaptureSelect and POROS resins can work together to create a purification workflow from capture to polish. CaptureSelect affinity resins specifically capture the target molecule with high selectivity. Subsequent polishing with POROS IEX and HIC resins, as well as mixed-mode resin, can further improve product purity. Used together, they help reduce process steps, improve yield, and maintain consistent performance from research through commercial manufacturing.

POROS technology creates a powerful base bead through a rigid poly(styrene-divinylbenzene) structure engineered with large throughpores. This design promotes rapid mass transfer and mechanical stability, allowing the bead to maintain performance under high flow and pressure. The robust backbone can then be functionalized with different chemistries to support chromatography across modalities, including monoclonal and bispecific antibodies, recombinant proteins, viral vectors, peptides, and enzymes.

Thermo Fisher offers tools to streamline resin screening and process optimization. 96-well screening plates support high-throughput screening of molecules and the binding and wash conditions at a small scale. MiniChrom and GoPure pre-packed columns enable rapid resin evaluation and method optimization, allowing users to efficiently scale from research to process development.

Thermo Fisher develops custom chromatography resins and ligands for specific molecular targets or process needs. Our team collaborates from early development through commercial scale to design materials that support consistent purification performance.

Thermo Fisher maintains a global manufacturing network with ISO-certified facilities in the United States, the Netherlands, and Lithuania. The three sites maintain cross-site consistency in performance and compliance to help maintain consistent production and reliable supply of chromatography resins and columns, supporting long-term process continuity from development through commercial manufacturing.

Optimize processes with columns and ligands

Chromatography columns

Pre-packed chromatography columns, available in multiple sizes, help simplify method setup and reduce preparation time. They support capture, intermediate, and polishing steps, enabling reliable data for process development and scale-up.

Conjugated ligands


CaptureSelect conjugated ligands include biotinylated, HRP-, and Alexa Fluor formats for analytical assays. They target antibodies, fragments, proteins, viral vectors, and exosomes, maintaining binding activity for ELISA or fluorescence detection.

Power processes with chromatography products

Thermo Fisher offers chromatography and purification products for use from development to manufacturing. The range includes resins, columns, and membranes that support reliable separation and consistent process performance
 

Explore chromatography techniques


Chromatography is used to separate biomolecules based on physical or chemical differences that affect their interaction with a stationary phase. Scientists employ various chromatography techniques to enhance resolution or yield at specific purification stages.

Chromatography resources

Access application notes, protocols, and videos that support resin evaluation and process development. Topics include resin selection, column operation, method transfer, and troubleshooting for antibodies, viral vectors, and mRNA. These materials offer guidance for downstream workflows, spanning from early research to manufacturing.
 

Enable purification process efficiency with solutions

Enable purification process efficiency with solutions

For research use or further manufacturing. Not for diagnostic use or direct administration into humans or animals.