Supermacroporous Polymer Microspheres for High-Capacity Virus & VLP Purification

Biovanix supermacroporous ion exchange chromatography media deliver 10× the loading capacity of conventional agarose resins — engineered for precise control of pore sizes from 100 nm to 400 nm, preserving viral particle integrity at high flow rates.

10× Capacity vs. Agarose

Flow Rates up to 1,200 cm/h

Virus-Grade Pore Control

PS-DVB & PMMA Platforms

What Are Supermacroporous Polymer Microspheres?

Supermacroporous polymer microspheres are advanced chromatography media featuring interconnected macropores ranging from 100 nm to 400 nm. These pores are large enough to allow intact virus particles and viral-like particles (VLPs) to enter the bead interior and bind to ion exchange functional groups throughout the entire volume of the particle — not just on the surface.

In order to address key issues in the purification of viruses and viral particles, Biovanix has always been bold in its exploration of process technology and product development. Its research and production of super macroporous ion exchange chromatography media have achieved precise control over the pore size of the chromatography media. Compared to conventional chromatography media, it has better performance in terms of load capacity and processing speed. It is more conducive to maintaining the structure of viral vectors and viral-like particles.

Biovanix Polymer Microspheres at a Glance

√ 10× loading capacity compared to conventional agarose media; 2× capacity vs. standard polymer media

√ Pore size range: 100 nm – 400 nm, precisely controlled across four series (S / M / G / V)

√ Two matrix platforms: PS-DVB (polystyrene-divinylbenzene) and PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate)

√ Four functional groups: SP (strong cation), Q (strong anion), CM (weak cation), DEAE (weak anion)

√ Flow rates: up to 1,200 cm/h (PS-DVB) and 750 cm/h (PMMA)

√ pH stability: 1–12 (PS-DVB), 2–12 (PMMA)

√ Applications: virus purification, VLP purification, large-molecule protein separation, gene therapy vectors

Five Key Advantages of Supermacroporous Polymer Microspheres

Engineered to overcome the limitations of conventional chromatography media for biologics purification.

01

Full Pore Accessibility for Viruses & Large Particles

Large molecules or viral particles can easily enter the pores for binding. The supermacroporous structure with pores from 100–400 nm allows intact viral vectors, VLPs, and protein complexes to access the entire internal surface area, not just the outer shell.

02

10× Loading Capacity vs. Agarose Media

The load capacity is more than 10 times that of conventional agarose media and twice that of conventional polymer media. This dramatic increase in binding capacity reduces column volume requirements and process time per batch.

03

Preserves Structural Integrity of Target Proteins

It can maintain the integrity of the structure of large molecular proteins, obtaining high yield and high activity of the target protein. Gentle binding kinetics and optimized ligand density minimize denaturation and aggregation during capture.

04

Low Non-Specific Adsorption, High Mechanization

After hydrophilic modification of the microsphere surface and the bonding of ion exchange groups, non-specific adsorption is low, and the degree of mechanization is high. This ensures reproducible results and scalable manufacturing processes.

05

Fast Mass Transfer at High Flow Rates

The molecular mass transfer rate is fast, and better separation can be achieved at higher flow rates. With flow rates up to 1,200 cm/h for PS-DVB series, these media deliver productivity gains without sacrificing resolution or binding capacity.

Two Chromatography Media Platforms

Choose the matrix material that best fits your purification process requirements.

PS-DVB Microspheres

Polystyrene-Divinylbenzene Matrix

Particle Size: 15 µm / 30 µm / 50 µm

Pore Size: 100–400 nm (4 series)

Max Pressure: up to 8.0 MPa

pH Stability: 1–12

Flow Rate: up to 1,200 cm/h

Series: Poly15, Poly 50M, 50G, 50V

PMMA Microspheres

Polymethyl Methacrylate Matrix

Particle Size: 70 µm

Pore Size: 100–400 nm (4 series)

Max Pressure: up to 1.0 MPa

pH Stability: 2–12

Flow Rate: up to 750 cm/h

Series: PM 70S, 70M, 70G, 70V

Need Help Selecting the Right Media for Your Application?

Our chromatography scientists can recommend the optimal product based on your target molecule, particle size, and process requirements.

Complete Product Specifications

All technical parameters for Biovanix supermacroporous polymer chromatography media.

PSDVB Particle Selection

Support Matrix	Poly(styrene/divinylbenzene) (PS-DVB)
Ligand	Recombinant Protein A
Ave. Particle size	50µm
Dynamic Binding Capacity (DBC)	Approx. 40 mg human IgG/ml media (Determined at 10% breakthrough by frontal analysis at a mobile phase velocity of 500 cm/h in a column with a bed height of 5 cm, Residence time 0.6 min)
Shrinkage/Swelling	< 1% from 1-100% organic solvent
pH range (Long term)	pH 2-10
Maximum Operating Pressure	1500 psi (100 bar / 10 MPa)
Cleaning Agents	0.1-0.5M NaOH
Temperature Stability	4-40 °C
Delivery Conditions	20% ethanol (2-8℃)

Product	Poly15 SP	Poly15 Q	Poly30 SP	Poly30 Q
Matrix	Monodisperse PS-DVB
Particle Size	15um		30um
Function Group	(-CH2)SO3-	-CH2N⁺(CH3)3	(-CH2)SO3-	-CH2N⁺(CH3)3
Ligand Density	0.22meq/mL	0.24meq/mL	0.15meq/mL	0.18meq/mL
Capacity	80mg Lys/mL	45mg BSA/mL	60mg Lys/mL	30mg BSA/mL
Flow Rate	150~800cm/h		250~1000cm/h
Max. Pressure	8.0MPa		5.0MPa
pH Stability	2-12
Chemical Stability	All commonly used buffers,1M acetic acid,1M sodium oxychloride, 1M hydrochloric acid, 70% ethanol 30% isopropyl alcohol, 30% acetonitrile, 1%SDS, 6M guanidine hydrochloride, 8M urea, and other commonly used organic solvents; Avoid exposure to strong oxidants.
Usage Temperature	4~30°C
Storage	2~30°C, 20% ethanol

Product	Poly 50M
Matrix	SP	Q	CM	DEAE
Particle Size	PS-DVB
Function Group	50um
Pore Size	100-150nm
Ligand Density	0.15meq/mL	0.16meq/mL	0.15me q/mL	0.16me q/mL
Capacity	>80mgLys	>100mg BSA	>80mgLys	>90mg BSA
Flow Rate	300~1200cm/h
Max Pressure	3.0MPa
pH Stability	1-12
Chemical Stability	All commonly used buffers, 1M acetic acid, 1M sodium oxychloride, 1M hydrochloric acid, 70% ethanol 30% isopropyl alcohol, 30% acetonitrile, 1%SDS, 6M guanidine hydrochloride, 8M urea and other commonly used organic solvents; Avoid exposure to strong oxidants.
Usage Temperature	4~30°C
Storage	2~30°C, 20% ethanol

Product	Poly 50G
Matrix	SP	SP	SP	SP
Particle Size	PS-DVB
Function Group	50um
Pore Size	150-300nm
Ligand Density	0.14me q/mL	0.14me q/mL	0.14me q/mL	0.14me q/mL
Capacity	>70mg Lys	>70mg Lys	>70mg Lys	>70mg Lys
Flow Rate	300~1200cm/h
Max Pressure	2.0MPa
pH Stability	1-12
Chemical Stability	All commonly used buffers, 1M acetic acid, 1M sodium oxychloride, 1M hydrochloric acid, 70% ethanol 30% isopropyl alcohol, 30% acetonitrile, 1%SDS, 6M guanidine hydrochloride, 8M urea and other commonly used organic solvents; Avoid exposure to strong oxidants.
Usage Temperature	4~30°C
Storage	2~30°C, 20% ethanol

Product	Poly 50V
Matrix	SP	SP	SP	SP
Particle Size	PS-DVB
Function Group	50um
Pore Size	300-400nm
Ligand Density	0.12me q/mL	0.12me q/mL	0.12me q/mL	0.12me q/mL
Capacity	>70mg Lys	>70mg Lys	>70mg Lys	>70mg Lys
Flow Rate	300~1200cm/h
Max Pressure	1.0MPa
pH Stability	1-12
Chemical Stability	All commonly used buffers, 1M acetic acid, 1M sodium oxychloride, 1M hydrochloric acid, 70% ethanol 30% isopropyl alcohol, 30% acetonitrile, 1%SDS, 6M guanidine hydrochloride, 8M urea and other commonly used organic solvents; Avoid exposure to strong oxidants.
Usage Temperature	4~30°C
Storage	2~30°C, 20% ethanol

PMMA Particle Selection

Product	PM 70S
Matrix	SP	Q	CM	DEAE
Particle Size	PMMA
Function Group	70um
Pore Size	100nm
Ligand Density	0.18 meq/mL	0.12meq/mL	0.21meq/mL	0.15meq/mL
Capacity	115 mg Lys	80mg BSA	105 mg Lys	80mg BSA
Flow Rate	150~750cm/h
Max Pressure	1.0MPa
pH Stability	2-12
Chemical Stability	All commonly used buffers, 1M acetic acid, 1M sodium oxychloride, 1M hydrochloric acid, 70% ethanol 30% isopropyl alcohol, 30% acetonitrile, 1%SDS, 6M guanidine hydrochloride, 8M urea and other commonly used organic solvents; Avoid exposure to strong oxidants.
Usage Temperature	4~30°C
Storage	2~30°C, 20% ethanol

Product	PM 70M
Matrix	SP	Q	CM	DEAE
Particle Size	PMMA
Function Group	70um
Pore Size	100-150nm
Ligand Density	0.15meq/mL	0.12m eq/mL	0.22meq/ mL	0.11meq/mL
Capacity	115 mg Lys	80m g BSA	105mg Lys	80mg BSA
Flow Rate	150~750cm/h
Max Pressure	0.8MPa
pH Stability	2-12
Chemical Stability	All commonly used buffers, 1M acetic acid, 1M sodium oxychloride, 1M hydrochloric acid, 70% ethanol 30% isopropyl alcohol, 30% acetonitrile, 1%SDS, 6M guanidine hydrochloride, 8M urea and other commonly used organic solvents; Avoid exposure to strong oxidants.
Usage Temperature	4~30°C
Storage	2~30°C, 20% ethanol

Product	PM 70G
Matrix	SP	Q	CM	DEAE
Particle Size	PMMA
Function Group	70um
Pore Size	150-300nm
Ligand Density	0.11meq/mL	0.12meq/mL	0.10meq/mL	0.09meq/mL
Capacity	＞ 70mg Lys	＞ 75mg BSA	＞ 70mg Lys	＞ 60mg BSA
Flow Rate	150~750cm/h
Max Pressure	0.5MPa
pH Stability	2-12
Chemical Stability	All commonly used buffers, 1M acetic acid, 1M sodium oxychloride, 1M hydrochloric acid, 70% ethanol 30% isopropyl alcohol,30% acetonitrile, 1%SDS, 6M guanidine hydrochloride, 8M urea and other commonly used organic solvents; Avoid exposure to strong oxidants.
Usage Temperature	4~30°C
Storage	2~30°C, 20% ethanol

Product	PM 70V
Matrix	SP	Q	CM	DEAE
Particle Size	PMMA
Function Group	70um
Pore Size	300-400nm
Ligand Density	0.11meq/mL	0.12meq/mL	0.10meq/mL	0.09meq/ mL
Capacity	＞ 70mg Lys	＞ 75mg BSA	＞ 70m g Lys	＞ 60mg BSA
Flow Rate	150~750cm/h
Max Pressure	0.5MPa
pH Stability	2-12
Chemical Stability	All commonly used buffers, 1M acetic acid, 1M sodium oxychloride, 1M hydrochloric acid, 70% ethanol 30% isopropyl alcohol,30% acetonitrile, 1%SDS, 6M guanidine hydrochloride, 8M urea and other commonly used organic solvents; Avoid exposure to strong oxidants.
Usage Temperature	4~30°C
Storage	2~30°C, 20% ethanol

Product Selection Guide

Use this guide to choose the optimal polymer microsphere for your purification application.

PS-DVB vs. PMMA: Matrix Comparison

Property	PS-DVB	PMMA
Particle Sizes	15 / 30 / 50 µm	70 µm
Max Pressure	Up to 8.0 MPa	Up to 1.0 MPa
pH Stability	1–12	2–12
Max Flow Rate	Up to 1,200 cm/h	Up to 750 cm/h
Chemical Resistance	Excellent (harsh CIP)	Good (standard CIP)
Best For	High-pressure, aggressive cleaning, broad pH	Biocompatible, gentle processing

Pore Size Selection by Target Particle

Series Code	Pore Size	Recommended Application
S (Small)	100 nm	Small viruses, proteins, protein complexes
M (Medium)	100–150 nm	Medium viral vectors (AAV, lentivirus)
G (Large)	150–300 nm	Large VLPs, enveloped viruses
V (Very Large)	300–400 nm	Baculoviruses, plant viruses, large gene therapy vectors

Applications

Supermacroporous polymer microspheres are purpose-built for challenging biologics purification workflows.

Virus Purification

Purify intact viral particles including AAV, lentivirus, adenovirus, and baculovirus with high recovery and preserved infectivity. The supermacroporous structure ensures full particle access to binding sites.

VLP Purification

Capture and purify virus-like particles (VLPs) used in vaccine development. Maintain structural integrity and antigenicity while achieving high yield through optimized pore sizes and gentle binding conditions.

Large-Molecule Protein Separation

Separate antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), fusion proteins, and other large protein complexes that cannot effectively penetrate conventional media pores.

Gene Therapy Vector Processing

Purify gene therapy delivery vectors at scale with chromatography media designed to handle the full size range of viral and non-viral vectors while maintaining biological activity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about supermacroporous polymer chromatography media.

What are supermacroporous polymer microspheres?

Supermacroporous polymer microspheres are advanced chromatography media featuring interconnected macropores ranging from 100 nm to 400 nm. These pores are large enough to allow intact virus particles and viral-like particles (VLPs) to enter and bind to ion exchange functional groups within the pores, delivering over 10 times the loading capacity of conventional agarose media. Biovanix produces these media in two matrix platforms: PS-DVB and PMMA.

What is the difference between PS-DVB and PMMA microspheres?

PS-DVB (polystyrene-divinylbenzene) microspheres offer superior chemical resistance, wider pH stability (1–12), and higher pressure tolerance (up to 8.0 MPa), making them ideal for aggressive cleaning and high-flow applications. PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate) microspheres provide biocompatible surfaces suited for sensitive biological samples and moderate operating conditions up to 1.0 MPa.

How do l choose the right pore size for virus purification?

Select pore size based on the diameter of your target particle: S series (100 nm) for small viruses and proteins, M series (100–150 nm) for medium-sized viral vectors such as AAV and lentivirus, G series (150–300 nm) for large VLPs and enveloped viruses, and V series (300–400 nm) for the largest viral particles such as baculoviruses and certain plant viruses.

What is the loading capacity of supermacroporous polymer microspheres?

Supermacroporous polymer microspheres deliver loading capacities exceeding 10 times that of conventional agarose media and twice that of standard polymer media. For example, PS-DVB Poly15 SP achieves 80 mg Lys/mL capacity, while PMMA PM 70S achieves 115 mg Lys/mL. The exact capacity depends on the product series, pore size, and functional group selected.

Can these microspheres be used for large-molecule protein purification? 

Yes. The supermacroporous structure allows large-molecule proteins, antibodies, and protein complexes to access internal binding sites, maintaining structural integrity while achieving high yield and high activity recovery. The hydrophilic surface modification minimizes non-specific adsorption, ensuring clean separations even for sensitive biomolecules.

What functional groups are available?

Four functional group options are available across both platforms: SP (strong cation exchange, -CH₂SO₃⁻), Q (strong anion exchange, -CH₂N⁺(CH₃)₃), CM (weak cation exchange, carboxymethyl), and DEAE (weak anion exchange, diethylaminoethyl). Strong ion exchangers (SP, Q) are recommended for most virus purification applications due to their pH-independent binding characteristics.

What is the maximum flow rate for these chromatography media?

Flow rates range from 150 cm/h for the Poly15 series up to 1,200 cm/h for the Poly 50M/50G/50V PS-DVB series. The PMMA series operates at 150–750 cm/h. The fast mass transfer kinetics of supermacroporous microspheres enable efficient separation even at these elevated flow rates, significantly improving process throughput.

Ready to Optimize Your Purification Process?

Contact Biovanix for pricing, sample requests, or technical consultation on supermacroporous polymer microspheres.