- Our first objective was to develop a gentle, pH-neutral antibody purification technology to replace Protein A and Protein G affinity chromatography. This new proprietary method avoids antibody unfolding and refolding, as well as carbohydrate degradation of the Fc region. This process may promise reduced aggregation, lower probability of immune related side effects and improved efficacy for therapeutic antibodies. To date, Columbia has developed the chromatography tools for purifying human monoclonal antibodies and is in the process of purifying a population of human antibodies to demonstrate their improved function.
- Our second objective was to improve the technology associated with culturing microalgae, harvesting their fluorophores and conjugating them to antibodies for sale as biologic reagents. Columbia has developed new fluorescent products including B-phycoerythrin (B-PE), R-phycoerythrin (R-PE), peridinin chlorophyll (PerCP) and their associated tandem fluorophores. We have also licensed Dylight® fluorophores, which allows us to make high intensity conjugates for use in fluorescent microscopy and High Throughput Screening (HTS).
- Our third objective was to develop a full suite of custom services including protein purification, modification, conjugation and labeling. We currently provide such services to large pharmaceutical companies, academia and US government laboratories.