The fractionation of human blood plasma can be considered to be a mature industry, with the basic technology, alcohol fractionation, dating back at least to the 1940s. Many of the products described in the current work have been approved biologics since the 1950s. The information gathered from the development of plasma proteins has proved vital to the development of recombinant therapeutic proteins.

Discussing the role of plasma proteins in current biotechnology, Biotechnology of Plasma Proteins describes the protein composition of human plasma, the fractionation of plasma to obtain therapeutic proteins, and the analysis of these products. It delineates the path from plasma products to recombinant products, and highlights products from albumin, intravenous immunoglobins, and coagulation. It offers a comprehensive review of current techniques for the analysis of proteins including electrophoresis, chromatography, spectrophotometry, mass spectrometry, and updates not published since 1975.

Key Topics

Protein Composition of Plasma

• Proteomic methods for plasma protein analysis
• Plasma protein biomarkers
• Validation of biomarkers
• Assays for plasma biomarkers

Methods for the Analysis of Protein Products

• Assay development and validation
• Electrophoresis
• Chromatography
• Immunoassay
• Mass spectrometry
• Raman spectroscopy

Plasma Fractionation: Historical and Modern Methods

• Development of Cohn alcohol fractionation
• Industrial methods
• Development of chromatographic methods

Plasma Protein Products of Therapeutic Value

• Albumin
• Intravenous immunoglobulin
• Coagulation products
• Growth factors
• Wound management