Purification of Recombinant Proteins
High-Yield, High-Purity Solutions
Whether you’re developing therapeutic proteins or conducting fundamental research, the purification of recombinant proteins is a crucial step to ensure quality, consistency, and performance.
At Bioneer, we specialize in efficient, scalable purification solutions tailored to your specific protein and expression system.
By partnering with us for purification of recombinant proteins, you get:
- High-purity results — Achieve >99% purity with optimized multistep workflows
- Fully customized processes — Tailored to your specific protein, expression system, and project goals
- Flexible, step-wise collaboration — Modular project design with clear Go/No-Go decision points
- Rapid material delivery — From mg to g scale, for early studies or full development
- Broad technique toolbox — Affinity, ion exchange, SEC, mixed mode, endotoxin removal, and more
- Scalability support— From early-stage material to cGMP readiness, we help ensure a smooth tech transfer and scale-up path
- Dedicated scientific partnership — As your trusted life science partner, we provide flexible, step-by-step support
with regular check-ins and tailored solutions for your protein and project goals
By partnering with us for purification of recombinant proteins, you get:
High-purity results
Achieve >99% purity with optimized multistep workflows
Fully customized processes
Tailored to your specific protein, expression system, and project goals
Flexible, step-wise collaboration
Modular project design with clear Go/No-Go decision points
Rapid material delivery
From mg to g scale, for early studies or full development
Broad technique toolbox
Affinity, ion exchange, SEC, mixed mode, endotoxin removal, and more
Scalability support
From early-stage material to cGMP readiness, we help ensure a smooth tech transfer and scale-up path
Dedicated scientific partnership
As your trusted life science partner, we provide flexible, step-by-step support with regular check-ins and tailored solutions for your protein and project goals
Inclusion Body (IB) Refolding Expertise
We offer specialized services in the solubilization and refolding of inclusion bodies (IBs) produced in E. coli. Leveraging our deep experience, we conduct systematic screening and design customized refolding protocols to maximize protein yield, enhance recovery, and ensure correct folding and functionality of your target protein.
Types of proteins we purify
With over 350 recombinant protein projects completed, we specialize in tackling difficult-to-express and complex proteins.
Our experience spans a wide range of modalities — below are examples from previous projects.
- mAbs
- Fabs
- Bispecifics
- Vaccine Antigens
- Enzymes
- Cytokines
- Allergens
- Fusion Proteins
- Membrane Proteins
- Hormones
- Growth Factors
Purification from Multiple Expression Systems
We have extensive expertise in purifying recombinant proteins expressed across a wide range of biological systems. Our capabilities span from mammalian expression platforms such as CHO and HEK cells to microbial hosts including Escherichia coli and Lactococcus lactis.
We develop and optimize purification processes tailored to various protein localizations—whether intracellular, periplasmic, or cytoplasmic—and handle both soluble and insoluble protein products with precision.
Types of proteins we purify
With over 350 recombinant protein projects completed, we specialize in tackling difficult-to-express and complex proteins.
Our experience spans a wide range of — below are examples from previous projects.
- mAbs
- Fabs
- Bispecifics
- Vaccine Antigens
- Enzymes
- Cytokines
- Allergens
- Fusion Proteins
- Membrane Proteins
- Hormones
- Growth Factors
We offer specialized services in the solubilization and refolding of inclusion bodies (IBs) produced in E. coli. Leveraging our deep experience, we conduct systematic screening and design customized refolding protocols to maximize protein yield, enhance recovery, and ensure correct folding and functionality of your target protein.
We have extensive expertise in purifying recombinant proteins expressed across a wide range of biological systems. Our capabilities span from mammalian expression platforms such as CHO and HEK cells to microbial hosts including Escherichia coli and Lactococcus lactis.
We develop and optimize purification processes tailored to various protein localizations—whether intracellular, periplasmic, or cytoplasmic—and handle both soluble and insoluble protein products with precision.
Affinity chromatography (Protein A, L, IMAC, etc.)
A highly selective method commonly used in the purification of recombinant proteins, especially those with affinity tags. It enables efficient isolation with high yield and purity.
Ion exchange chromatography
This technique separates proteins based on charge and is widely used in recombinant protein purification workflows for both capture and polishing steps.
Size exclusion chromatography
Also known as gel filtration, this method separates molecules by size and is often used in the final steps of recombinant protein purification to remove aggregates or for buffer exchange.
Mixed mode chromatography
Combines multiple separation principles (e.g., ionic and hydrophobic interactions) to improve resolution. It’s particularly useful when standard recombinant protein purification methods are insufficient.
Hydrophobic interaction chromatography
Separates proteins based on surface hydrophobicity and is used in intermediate or polishing steps during recombinant protein purification, especially for challenging or sticky proteins.
Endotoxin removal chromatography
A critical technique in bacterial expression systems like E. coli, ensuring endotoxin-free recombinant proteins for research or preclinical applications.
Additional techniques based on your needs
We tailor every purification of recombinant proteins to the molecule at hand — drawing from a broader toolbox including ultrafiltration, diafiltration, and custom workflows designed for scalability and reproducibility.
Workflow at Bioneer
Our flexible, step-wise purification workflows are informed by deep protein expertise and designed to reduce risk — with Go/No-Go decision points built in for smarter project progression.
Process Step |
Example techniques |
|
|---|---|---|
| Preparation, Extraction, Clarification |
|
|
|
Capture (Isolate, concentrate, and stabilize) |
|
|
| Intermediate Purification
(Remove Bulk Impurities) |
|
|
| Polishing
(Achieve final high level purity) |
|
|
| Finalizing/ Formulation
(final preparation) |
|
Our Process and Example techniques
FAQ: Purification of recombinant proteins
Service-Specific Questions
Can Bioneer help with both small-scale and large-scale protein purification?
Yes. We offer purification services from milligram to gram scale. Whether you need rapid material for early-stage research or a robust, scalable process for later development, we adapt our workflow and techniques to suit your project size and timeline.
Do you offer protein characterization after purification?
Yes. We offer end-to-end recombinant protein services — from gene synthesis to non-GMP or GMP-manufacturing. This includes expression, upstream process development, purification, characterization and analysis, formulation, and manufacturing. Our analytical toolbox ensures full understanding of your protein’s identity, purity, concentration, and biological activity.
Can I send you my own expression construct, or can you handle the expression as part of the project?
We can do both. You are welcome to send us your expression construct, but we also offer full-service support including codon optimization, construct design, and expression in microbial or mammalian systems.
What information do you need to start a protein purification project?
To get started, we typically need details such as:
- Expression system used
- Vector and tag information
- Estimated yield and solubility
- Intended use of the protein
- Any known purification history based on this, we can tailor a stepwise project plan with Go/No-Go decision points for clarity and flexibility.
How long does the purification process typically take?
Project timelines vary based on complexity, scale, and protein characteristics. However, we typically deliver small-scale purified protein within 2–4 weeks, while full process development projects may take longer depending on the scope.
How is the final purified protein delivered?
Proteins are typically delivered frozen in a formulated buffer of your choice, in clearly labeled vials. We can also provide documentation and analytical reports upon request.
Can I get a consultation to discuss my project?
Yes. By briefly filling out our contact form on this page, we’ll set up a no-obligation consultation to discuss your needs. We’re always happy to explore solutions and help you find the best path forward.
Is your purification process for Biologics GMP-compliant?
We develop purification processes that are designed for seamless transfer to fully GMP-compliant manufacturing environments. Bioneer operates under stringent quality-controlled, GMP-like conditions and has extensive experience producing GMP-grade ancillary or process-related proteins (i.e., critical raw materials).
However, we do not produce GMP-grade Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs). For full GMP manufacturing of APIs, we collaborate with qualified partners or facilitate technology transfer to your preferred CMO/CDMO.
Do you have examples of previous projects or case studies?
Yes. We have supported a wide range of protein projects — from early discovery to manufacturing readiness. Please reach out if you’re interested in relevant case studies; we’re happy to share anonymized examples that reflect our capabilities.
General Understanding
How does purification of recombinant proteins work?
Recombinant protein purification involves isolating the target protein from a complex mixture of host cell proteins and impurities. This is typically done through multiple chromatography steps — such as affinity, ion exchange, and size exclusion — to achieve the desired purity, yield, and biological activity. The goal is to obtain a highly pure protein suitable for downstream research or development use.
What are the common methods used for purifying recombinant proteins?
Common purification methods include various chromatography techniques that separate proteins based on properties like size, charge, or affinity. These methods are chosen depending on the characteristics of the target protein and the impurities present. Widely used techniques include:
- Affinity chromatography – Uses specific interactions (e.g., His-tag, Protein A) to selectively bind the protein of interest, offering high specificity.
- Ion exchange chromatography – Separates proteins based on charge, useful for removing host cell proteins or fine-tuning purity.
- Size exclusion chromatography – Separates molecules by size and helps remove aggregates or multimers.
- Hydrophobic interaction chromatography – Exploits hydrophobic regions of proteins, often used in polishing steps.
- Mixed mode chromatography – Combines multiple separation principles to improve resolution in complex samples.
At Bioneer, we apply these and other methods in custom combinations to meet your purity, yield, and scalability goals.
Why is protein purification important in research and drug development?
Purified recombinant proteins are essential for a wide range of applications, from structural and functional studies to therapeutic development and diagnostics. High purity ensures reproducibility, and performance in preclinical and clinical settings, and allows accurate characterization and formulation of protein-based products.
How does the expression system (E. coli, CHO, etc.) affect purification?
The choice of expression system influences both the complexity of the purification process and the characteristics of the final protein. Microbial systems like E. coli are fast and cost-efficient but may produce inclusion bodies that require solubilization and refolding. Mammalian systems such as CHO or HEK293 provide post-translational modifications but often require more refined purification steps to remove host cell proteins and DNA.
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