Tangential flow filtration of virus particles may be an important unit operation for the purification of virus particles and virus vectors for gene therapy and viral vaccines. Here passage of Aedes aegypti densonucleosis virus through 100 kDa membranes has been investigated. The Aedes aegypti densonucleosis virus is very small being 18-26 nm in size. Consequently it is will be challenging to remove larger host cell proteins and DNA from the virus particles using membrane filtration.
Tangential flow ultrafiltration experiments have been conducted using two modes of operation. The high performana tangential flow filtration mode includes recycling of some of the permeate co current to the feed solution. In the single pump mode of operation only a feed pump is used while the permeate outlet is at atmospheric pressure. It was found that the high performance tangential flow mode of operation gives better passage of virus particle. Further the permeate flux is more stable over longer periods of time.