Guest Post from Waters Corporation: A Closer Look at BioResolve™ Protein A Affinity Columns

As someone who’s spent the better part of two decades in analytical biochemistry, I’ve had a front-row seat to the evolution of separation technologies — and I’ve contributed to a few of them along the way. At Waters Corporation, I lead our bioseparations portfolio, working closely with my teams across R&D, product development, and customer engagement. My focus has always been on making sophisticated yet simplified analytical tools to help developers create the next generation of biologics.

 

 

One thing I’ve learned over the years: some of the most overlooked steps in analytical workflows are the ones with the most to gain. Antibody titer measurement is a perfect example. Whether you’re screening clones, evaluating process consistency, or tracking yields during upstream development, getting high-quality data quickly can dramatically shift timelines and decision-making. Historically, Protein A columns have served as the workhorse for this analytical work — useful, yes, but not always optimized for speed or sensitivity. That’s why I’m excited about our new BioResolve™ Protein A Affinity Columns.

 

These columns are built on novel 3.5 µm non-porous particles and paired with Waters’ MaxPeak™ Premier hardware, delivering up to seven times greater sensitivity than leading alternatives. That’s not a minor boost — it’s a substantial leap that allows researchers to detect lower antibody concentrations, minimize sample consumption in developability studies, and reduce repeat testing. In practical terms, this means you can obtain titer results up to two days earlier from cultures, offering faster feedback for clone selection and process optimization. Time saved at this stage isn’t just a convenience — it enables smarter decisions under pressure, especially in high-throughput environments.

 

 

 

Available in 2.1 × 20 mm and 3.9 × 5 mm formats, these new columns are designed for seamless fit into any LC system. Their compact design also allows for unique types of directly coupled column configurations, making it possible to combine titer and aggregate analysis in a single run without the need for valving or more than a single pump. This integrated approach boosts throughput while conserving instrument time, which gives a win-win for labs juggling multiple analytical demands.

 

As therapeutic antibody-based drugs become more complex, the demand for more precise, flexible, and high-throughput analytical tools will only grow. BioResolve Protein A Affinity Columns bring next level analytical performance to the front end of your process analytics. They’re not just faster. They’re smarter and built for the evolving realities of biologics development.