Blood plasma fractionation is the process of separating the various proteins and other biomolecules found in human blood plasma. Plasma makes up about 55% of human blood and contains hundreds of different proteins that perform various functions in the body. Fractionation allows these vital proteins to be isolated for therapeutic use.
Plasma Collection
Plasma is collected from healthy donors at plasma donation centres. The plasma is first tested extensively for safety. It is then fractionated to isolate the desired proteins. Many litres of plasma are required to produce sufficient quantities of the purified proteins.
Fractionation Process
In the fractionation process, the plasma is thawed and treated to precipitate certain proteins which are removed by centrifugation and filtration. The supernatant is then subjected to various processes like salting out, chromatography, electrophoresis, and precipitation to isolate the various components.
Major Plasma Proteins
Some of the major proteins isolated from plasma fractionation include:
- Albumin which helps maintain blood volume and pressure.
- Immunoglobulin G (IgG) which contains antibodies and is used to treat immune deficiencies.
- Coagulation factors like Factor VIII and Factor IX which are used to treat bleeding disorders like haemophilia. The global coagulation factors market size was valued at USD 10.4 billion in 2022.
Storage Requirements
The purified plasma proteins require very cold temperatures for stability. They are frozen at -30°C or below and stored in deep freezers prior to distribution. Careful temperature control is critical throughout the transportation and storage process. The proteins are formulated with stabilizers to help maintain effectiveness under frozen storage.
Applications
Plasma fractionation has enabled the isolation of proteins vital for treating bleeding disorders, immunodeficiencies, burns, shock, and other medical conditions. The advancements in fractionation technology have greatly improved plasma’s utility in saving lives. Continued plasma collection and research are key to meet the growing worldwide demand.
Key points
- Availability of the Blood plasm for the processing.
- Plasma Handling, Storage of Raw plasma in negative temperature ( -30 ˚ C).
- Plasma sampling and plasma bag cutting.
- Solvent Handling (Considering Cohn Fractionation method).