Simultaneous purification and depolymerization of Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 2 capsular polysaccharides by trifluoroacetic acid.

Development of an effective purification process in order to provide low cost and high-quality vaccine is the necessity of glycoconjugate vaccine manufacturing industries. In the present study, we have attempted to develop a method for simultaneous purification and depolymerization process for capsular polysaccharides (CPS) derived from Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 2. Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) was used to precipitate impurities which were then removed by centrifugation. It was observed that the TFA treatment could simultaneously depolymerize the CPS and purify it. The purified and depolymerized CPS was analyzed for its purity, structural identity and conformity, molecular size, antigenicity to meet desired quality specifications. The obtained results showed that the purification and depolymerization of S. pneumoniae serotype 2 CPS did not affect the antigenicity of CPS.