Overview

The ÄKTA ready™ 450 is a single-use liquid chromatography system purpose-built for small-scale GMP manufacturing, including the production of viral vectors, nucleic acid therapeutics, and other sensitive biologics. With its compact benchtop footprint and robust compliance features, this system bridges the gap between large-scale single-use platforms and non-GMP bench systems.

Key benefits include:

• Flow rates from 5 to 450 mL/min with minimal hold-up volume for efficient purification of small drug batches.
• Single-use flow path design eliminates the need for cleaning validation, reduces risk of cross-contamination, and supports rapid changeovers.
• Closed flow path options with aseptic connectors to ensure product integrity and operator safety.
• Regulatory support with full documentation and qualification services.
• Compact footprint that maximizes valuable lab and cleanroom space.

Purpose-Built for Small-Scale GMP Production

Traditional single-use chromatography systems are designed for large-scale manufacturing, while benchtop systems often lack single-use and GMP compatibility. The ÄKTA ready™ 450 was developed to fill this gap, giving researchers and manufacturers a trusted solution for small-batch GMP production.

Designed for Sensitive Therapeutics

From gene and nucleic acid therapies to antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), today’s advanced therapeutics are highly sensitive and prone to contamination. The ÄKTA ready™ 450 supports closed processing, minimizing contamination risk while also protecting operators from exposure to potent or toxic substances.

Flow Kits and Prepacked Columns

• Flow Kits: Available for isocratic or gradient elution with either Tri-Clamp or AseptiQuik connectors. Valve blocks snap into place for fast setup, and installation tests verify correct configuration. Setup can be completed in under 10 minutes.
• Prepacked Columns: Compatible with ReadyToProcess™ prepacked columns up to 2.5 L. A column holder supports smaller formats. All flow kits are double-bagged and gamma-irradiated for sterility.

Advanced Sensors and Performance Features

• 12 inlets (8 on Pump A, 4 on Pump B) and 6 outlets for flexible flow path design.
• Integrated air trap, inline air sensor, and pre-filter location.
• Independent measurement of pressure drop across the pre-filter and column.
• Post-column monitoring of pressure, conductivity, temperature, pH, and UV absorbance.
• Multi-wavelength UV detection (206–700 nm, up to 3 wavelengths simultaneously) with absorbance ratio calculations for advanced pooling criteria.

Intuitive System Operation

• The system is operated via an external HMI with UNICORN™ control software, providing:
• User-friendly method editing for rapid recipe creation.
• OPC standard compatibility for integration with third-party control software.
• Seamless system monitoring and process control for compliant, reliable operation.