⚡ This new method outperforms traditional chromatography, offering faster and more efficient impurity removal, potentially lowering production costs.
🔗 The membrane features peptide ligands that selectively bind to mRNA, enhancing purification effectiveness.
🌍 Collaboration with industry is sought to advance this innovative technology further.
Introduction:
This article discusses a novel method developed by scientists at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute for purifying mRNA therapies using a regenerated cellulose (RC) membrane, which has shown superior performance compared to conventional chromatography columns. This advancement is particularly relevant in the context of mRNA vaccine production and may facilitate increased efficiency and cost-effectiveness in bioprocessing.
- The research team demonstrated that the RC membrane was faster and more efficient than existing chromatography methods for purifying mRNA therapies.
- The RC membrane is designed with peptide ligands that selectively bind to specific sections of mRNA molecules, allowing for targeted purification.
- The size of mRNA molecules, which are significantly larger than typical monoclonal antibodies, poses challenges in existing chromatography systems that the RC membrane addresses effectively.
- Adjusting the surface charge of the membrane enables effective binding and release of the mRNA or the removal of unwanted impurities.
- The research team is actively seeking industry collaborations to refine and commercialize this innovative purification technique.
Conclusion:
The newly developed regenerated cellulose membrane presents a promising alternative to current mRNA purification techniques, potentially leading to faster and more cost-effective production methods. The implications of this technology could have significant impacts on the scalability and accessibility of mRNA therapies, particularly in light of the ongoing demand for vaccines and therapeutic applications.
