Removal of biological contaminants

Abstract

A method of removing a biological contaminant from a mixture containing a biomolecule and the biological contaminant, the method comprising: (a) placing the biomolecule and contaminant mixture in a first solvent stream, the first solvent stream being separated from a second solvent stream by an electrophoretic membrane; (b) selecting a buffer for the first solvent stream having a required pH; (c) applying an electric potential between the two solvent streams causing movement of the biomolecule through the membrane into the second solvent stream while the biological contaminant is substantially retained in the first sample stream, or if entering the membrane, being substantially prevented from entering the second solvent stream; (d) optionally, periodically stopping and reversing the electric potential to cause movement of any biological contaminants having entered the membrane to move back into the first solvent stream, wherein substantially not causing any biomolecules that have entered the second solvent stream to re-enter first solvent stream; and (e) maintaining step (c), and optional step (d) if used, until the second solvent stream contains the desired purity of biomolecule.

What we claim is:  
     
         1 . A method for removing pathogens from biological liquids, said biological liquids containing at least one pharmaceutically active molecule, said method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a biological liquid, wherein pathogens are potentially present, in an apparatus comprising an anode and a cathode and a separation means suitable for separating said pathogens from said pharmaceutically active molecule, said separation means being positioned between said anode and said cathode;    applying current between said anode and said cathode, thereby causing one of said pathogens or said pharmaceutically active molecules to pass said separation means, and    recovering said pharmaceutically active molecule in a form being essentially free of pathogens.    
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein said separation means is a filtration means.  
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2  wherein said filtration means is an ultrafiltration membrane.  
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 2  wherein said filtration means is a nanofiltration membrane.  
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein said pharmaceutically active molecule is a protein.  
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5  wherein said protein is a blood protein.  
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 5  wherein said protein is smaller than said pathogen and said separation means allows passing of said protein but prevents passing of said pathogen.  
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein said separation means is a series of filters with different separation characteristics.  
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8  wherein said different filtration characteristics are caused by different cut-off values of the filters in said series of filters.  
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein said pathogens are selected from the group consisting of viruses, bacteria, prions, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 9  wherein said cut-off values are selected to allow a separation between said pharmaceutically active molecule and aggregate of said molecule.  
     
     
         12 . An apparatus for removing pathogens from biological fluids, said biological fluids containing at least one pharmaceutically active molecule, said apparatus comprising: 
 a container for uptake of said biological liquid,    an anode, a cathode, and a separation means suitable for separating said pathogens from said pharmaceutically active molecule, said separation means being positioned between said anode and said cathode, and    a current supply and means for applying said current between said anode and said cathode.