Separation of recombinant erythropoietin and human serum albumin without the use of sophisticated equipment

Anal Biochem. 2025 Jan:696:115673. doi: 10.1016/j.ab.2024.115673. Epub 2024 Sep 13.

Abstract

A number of drugs based on recombinant erythropoietin contain human serum albumin as an auxiliary component. The presence of this protein hinders the proper control of the drug quality in accordance with the requirements of regulating agencies. We propose the novel method for separation of recombinant erythropoietin (epoetin beta) and human serum albumin. It is based on the subsequent use of hydrophobic sorbent and anion exchange resin placed in gravity flow columns (without the use of spin-columns). The proposed approach makes it possible to concentrate and purify the preparations containing the epoetin beta both at high and at minimal concentrations (the ratio of the amount of albumin and erythropoietin in the used preparations can reach 125:1). The average yield of epoetin beta after the use of hydrophobic sorbent and anion exchange resin was 75 % and 97 %, respectively. It was shown that the determined conditions of sample preparation had no affect on the content of the epoetin beta in the product.

Keywords: Erythropoietin; HPLC; Human serum albumin; Purification; Separation.

MeSH terms

  • Chromatography, Ion Exchange / methods
  • Erythropoietin* / isolation & purification
  • Humans
  • Recombinant Proteins* / isolation & purification
  • Serum Albumin* / analysis
  • Serum Albumin* / chemistry
  • Serum Albumin* / isolation & purification

Substances

  • Erythropoietin
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Serum Albumin
  • epoetin beta