Sartorius Stedim Biotech has launched the first commerciallyavailable membrane adsorber for hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC).Sartobind Phenyl membrane adsorbers allow increased flow rates to ensure fasterprocesses and can be used for process upgrades in purification and polishing oftherapeutic proteins. Sartobind Phenyl provides the advantages of an HIC ligandadsorber while showing the specificity and behavior of a conventional HICmatrix. The hydrophobic phenyl ligand is covalently attached to the >3 µmcellulose membrane. Target molecules bind to the membrane with similar bindingcapacities and at the same buffer conditions as with conventional HIC columns.However, the flow rates can be increased at least tenfold to allow a fasterprocess upgrade in purification and polishing of therapeutic proteins. Theresolution is at least as good as that obtained with comparable phenyl columns.With a binding capacity of 0.4 mg/cm² (15 mg/ml), Sartobind Phenyl can be usedfor antibody medium scale capture. Its key application is removal ofhydrophobic aggregates that pose the risk of unwanted immune system responsewhen patients are treated with therapeutic proteins. Detergent removal andlarge molecule /bioparticle purification are further application options forHIC membranes. The membrane adsorber is easy to handle, suitable for single andbatch use and scalable from the 3 ml Sartobind nano version to the Sartobind150 ml capsule. It will soon also be scalable to the Jumbo 5 l unit.