Separation of recombinant antibodies from DNA using divalent cations

New downstream methods for the purification of antibodies are required to meet the demands of current and future antibody applications, e.g. for mass production as cancer therapeutic. The standard chromatographic methods suffer from high material costs and mass transfer limitations. In this study, we established and characterized a method for DNA precipitation for antibody purification using divalent cations, particularly CaCl₂, using four different antibodies. By implementing high‐throughput screening using a factorial design plan, we determined that CaCl₂ concentration and PO₄^3? concentration were significant factors, while temperature and pH were not significant. We detected DNA precipitation as well as host‐cell protein (HCP) reduction. Two‐dimensional difference gel electrophoresis (2D‐DIGE) revealed that improved HCP removal does not occur via an unspecific random mechanism such as the enclosure of proteins in the precipitate. CaCl₂ precipitation of DNA and HCP can be combined with nonchromatographic methods such as precipitation and protein A affinity chromatography. This additional purification method not only enhances DNA removal, but also the removal of HCP and antibody multimers, which will reduce immunogenicity and increase homogeneity of the resulting drug.