In biopharmaceuticals, where every step of the process can impact the efficacy and safety of the final product, high-quality equipment like centrifuges is a must for lab work. Centrifugation technology is a cornerstone of biopharmaceutical applications, which provides efficient, reliable ways to separate solids from liquids, harvest cells, purify proteins, and even isolate viruses for vaccine production.
In 2023, nearly 6,000 pharmacies across Australia saw a surge in demand, and as online shopping gained momentum due to the COVID-19 pandemic the following year, drugstores and pharmacies became some of the most frequented physical retail locations across the country.
Beyond major pharmaceutical retailers and wholesalers, Australia also hosts prominent international pharma and biotechnology companies. This thriving biopharma landscape underscores the need for efficient lab equipment to support high-demand production and processing requirements.
We will learn about the role of these centrifugation machines in biopharma. We will also cover how they work, why they’re important for biopharma labs, and what to look for when choosing the right device for your lab.
Why Are They Important in Biopharma Labs?
At its core, centrifugation is a separation technique that uses centrifugal force to separate particles based on density. In this spinner, heavier particles move outward and settle at the bottom, while lighter ones remain suspended in the liquid. This is useful in biopharmaceutical processes, where precise separation maintains the quality and purity of biological samples.
Their different types cater to various stages of the biopharma process. From simple benchtop models to high-speed and ultra-centrifuges, each type is designed to handle specific volumes, particle sizes, and densities. The type of rotor (fixed-angle, swinging-bucket, or vertical) also affects how samples settle during centrifugation, which makes certain rotors better suited to particular applications.
What Are the Applications of Centrifuges in Biopharma Processing?
Centrifugation is integral to the biopharmaceutical industry because it supports the production of therapies, vaccines, and other vital products. Find out more about its applications.
Cell Harvesting
Cell harvesting is one of the earliest steps, typically involving the separation of cultured cells from a growth medium. This process concentrates the cells needed for subsequent extraction steps. It removes the solid from a liquid by spinning the cell culture and isolating cells for further processing.
Commonly harvested cells include bacteria, yeast, and mammalian cells, all of which may be used to produce therapeutic proteins or vaccines. While alternative methods like filtration are available, centrifugation provides a fast, scalable, and cost-effective way to collect a high concentration of cells.
Cell Lysis and Clarification
Once cells are harvested, the next step involves cell lysis, breaking open the cells to release their contents. Following lysis, centrifugation separates cellular debris from the target products, which might be proteins or other intracellular components.
Clarification removes unwanted cell fragments and sets the stage for more refined purification steps down the line. In this process, centrifugation offers reliable and consistent results, making it an indispensable part of separation techniques in biopharma.
Protein Purification
After clarification, the next goal is to separate the particles like proteins from other components in the cell lysate. Centrifugation can concentrate proteins, remove impurities, and prepare samples for further purification techniques, such as chromatography.
For labs producing therapeutic proteins, centrifugation helps streamline the purification process and yields high-quality protein samples that are ready for use in medicines or as starting material for vaccines. The tool’s precision makes it ideal for this step, as it handles sensitive proteins without compromising their activity or integrity.
Virus Purification and Vaccine Production
Ultracentrifuges can isolate viral particles by spinning samples at extremely high speeds. This process isolates viruses and separates them from impurities and host cell debris so that the virus particles are suitable for vaccine formulation.
By isolating viral particles in a controlled environment, centrifugation supports the development of vaccines and viral vectors with high purity and effectiveness. This step maintains the quality of vaccines and other virus-based therapies.
Benefits of Centrifugation in Biopharma
Centrifugation is a powerful technology in biopharmaceutical applications, valued for its ability to improve productivity, quality, and cost-efficiency in various lab processes. Here are the key benefits that make it indispensable in the biopharma industry.
1. High Efficiency
They are designed to handle large sample volumes and deliver quick, reliable separation, so biopharma companies can maintain high throughput and meet demanding production schedules. Whether used for cell harvesting or virus purification, centrifugation streamlines these processes by separating particles based on density. This efficiency translates to shorter processing times and higher productivity, which is especially valuable in large-scale operations.
2. Enhanced Purity
Purity is paramount in biopharmaceutical products, where the removal of contaminants and unwanted particles maintains safety and efficacy. Centrifugation provides precise separation and helps laboratories eliminate impurities, cellular debris, and other contaminants that could compromise product quality. This results in more consistent biopharmaceutical products and helps companies meet rigorous quality standards.
3. Cost-Effectiveness
It’s a cost-effective solution compared to other separation methods. Its scalability makes it suitable for a range of batch sizes, and its operational costs are relatively low. Centrifugation helps biopharma companies optimise their budgets and allocate resources by reducing the need for consumable materials like filters and the manpower required for manual separation.
4. Automation Compatibility
These modern separators are highly adaptable to automated systems, so they’re ideal for integration into continuous production lines. Automation improves consistency and reduces human error. Automated centrifugation systems also support around-the-clock operations, so companies can increase production capacity without increasing labour costs.
These benefits both help biopharma companies produce high-quality products and support scalable, sustainable growth in a competitive industry. For labs looking to optimise their processes and maintain high standards, investing in the right centrifugation equipment is a smart decision that pays off in both the short and long term.
Choosing the Right Equipment for Biopharmaceutical Applications
Selecting the appropriate one for your lab requires careful consideration so that the equipment meets the unique needs of your processes. Here are some of the factors to keep in mind.
- Rotor type. The rotor design impacts the types of samples you can process and the separation results. Fixed-angle rotors are ideal for faster processing and are commonly used for pelleting applications, while swinging-bucket rotors are preferred for density gradient separations.
- Speed. Centrifugation speed, measured in revolutions per minute (RPM), can achieve the desired separation results. Higher speeds can separate the smaller particles or denser materials, which makes them suitable for applications such as virus purification. However, lower speeds are sufficient for more delicate tasks, like cell harvesting.
- Capacity. These high-capacity spinners are well-suited for bulk processing, so you can maximise efficiency when handling large sample volumes. However, the smaller-capacity ones are often preferable for labs that focus on precision work with smaller samples or that have limited bench space.
- Automation features. The automated ones streamline the separation process, reducing manual handling and minimising errors, which is particularly valuable for high-throughput environments. Look for models that offer integration with laboratory information management systems (LIMS) and programmable settings for repeatable processes.
Selecting the right machine for biopharmaceutical applications involves more than just choosing a model. It requires understanding your lab and how different features can improve productivity. Find the one that aligns with your operations. Investing in the right equipment supports the scalability and quality required in today’s biopharma industry.
Select the Best Equipment for Your Biopharma Lab
From cell harvesting and protein purification to vaccine production, centrifuges provide high-quality, reliable separation that supports the development of life-saving therapies and vaccines.
Focus on equipment that meets the needs of each stage in your process. Working with a trusted lab equipment supplier can simplify this task, with a range of tools to improve your biopharma workflow.
For high-performance machines and lab equipment that support your biopharma processes, contact us to help you find the solution for your lab’s unique requirements.
