1
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Mantri P, Juneja B, Henderson S, Koufos E, Moon Y, Dayeh DM, Di Grandi D, Fu Y, Muthusamy K, Ihnat PM, Palackal N, Pyles EA. Comparison of capillary electrophoresis-based methods for the analytical characterization of purity and stability of in vitro transcribed mRNA. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2024; 249:116352. [PMID: 39029354 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2024.116352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2024] [Revised: 07/08/2024] [Accepted: 07/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/21/2024]
Abstract
Messenger RNA (mRNA) is rapidly growing as a therapeutic modality for vaccination and the treatment of a wide range of diseases. As a result, there is an increased demand for mRNA-based analytical methods capable of assessing purity and stability, which are considered critical quality attributes (CQAs). In recent decades capillary electrophoresis (CE) has emerged alongside liquid chromatography (LC) as an important tool for the assessment of purity and stability of mRNA therapeutics. CE offers a variety of advantages over conventional LC or gel-based analytical methods, including reduced injection volume, increased resolution, and increased separation efficiency. In this study we compared CE-based analytical methods: the Agilent RNA 6000 Nano Kit, the Revvity RNA Reagent Kit, the Sciex RNA 9000 Purity and Integrity Kit, and the Agilent HS RNA Kit. These methods were evaluated on their vendor-recommended instruments: the Bioanalyzer, LabChip GXII, PA800 Plus, and Fragment Analyzer, respectively. We assessed the ability of these methods to measure mRNA integrity, purity, and stability. Furthermore, several parameters for each method were also assessed: selectivity, precision, resolution, analysis time, and ease of use. Based on our results, all four methods are suitable for use in the characterization of in vitro transcribed (IVT) mRNA, depending on the intended application. The Sciex RNA 9000 Purity and Integrity kit method achieved the highest selectivity and resolving power compared with the other methods, making it the most suitable for high-resolution, in-depth sample characterization. In comparison, the Agilent RNA 6000 Nano Kit, Revvity RNA Reagent Kit, and Agilent HS RNA Kit achieved lower selectivity and resolution, but their faster analysis times make them more suitable for high-throughput and screening applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prerana Mantri
- Protein Biochemistry, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY 10591, United States
| | - Bindiya Juneja
- Protein Biochemistry, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY 10591, United States
| | - Steven Henderson
- Protein Biochemistry, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY 10591, United States
| | - Evan Koufos
- Protein Biochemistry, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY 10591, United States
| | - Youmi Moon
- Protein Biochemistry, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY 10591, United States
| | - Daniel M Dayeh
- Protein Biochemistry, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY 10591, United States
| | - Deanna Di Grandi
- Protein Biochemistry, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY 10591, United States
| | - Yue Fu
- Protein Biochemistry, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY 10591, United States.
| | - Kathir Muthusamy
- Protein Biochemistry, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY 10591, United States.
| | - Peter M Ihnat
- Protein Biochemistry, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY 10591, United States
| | - Nisha Palackal
- Protein Biochemistry, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY 10591, United States
| | - Erica A Pyles
- Protein Biochemistry, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 777 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, NY 10591, United States
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2
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He W, Geng Q, Ji G, Li J, Wang D, He Y, Jin Q, Ye J. Effective Synthesis of mRNA during In Vitro Transcription with Fewer Impurities Produced. Molecules 2024; 29:4713. [PMID: 39407643 PMCID: PMC11477551 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29194713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2024] [Revised: 09/28/2024] [Accepted: 09/30/2024] [Indexed: 10/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The remarkable efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines has established mRNA as a highly promising biomedical technology. However, the adequate application of mRNA therapeutics necessitates additional measures to mitigate the inherent immunogenicity, which is predominantly caused by dsRNA. As a byproduct of the in vitro transcription of mRNA, dsRNA was reported to be originated through several distinct mechanisms, including the extension of 3' loop-back hairpins, the extension of hybridized abortive transcripts, and promoter-independent transcription. The intricate mechanisms involved pose a dilemma as the reduction in dsRNA results in a concomitant decrease in other critical quality attributes of mRNA. Here, we demonstrate that the promoter binding motifs of T7 RNA polymerase directly impact the production of promoter-independent transcription-based dsRNA. Specifically, the G753A mutation significantly reduces the formation of dsRNA byproducts, which can further combine with modified nucleotides to enhance the effectiveness of dsRNA mitigation and with previously reported high-integrity mutation K389A to minimize side effects. Accordingly, the present study reports a cost-effective approach to synthesize high-purity, less immunostimulatory mRNA by using an engineered T7 RNA polymerase mutant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei He
- College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China;
- Vazyme Biotech Co., Ltd., Nanjing 210037, China; (Q.G.); (G.J.); (J.L.); (D.W.)
| | - Qi Geng
- Vazyme Biotech Co., Ltd., Nanjing 210037, China; (Q.G.); (G.J.); (J.L.); (D.W.)
| | - Guiying Ji
- Vazyme Biotech Co., Ltd., Nanjing 210037, China; (Q.G.); (G.J.); (J.L.); (D.W.)
| | - Ji Li
- Vazyme Biotech Co., Ltd., Nanjing 210037, China; (Q.G.); (G.J.); (J.L.); (D.W.)
| | - Dan Wang
- Vazyme Biotech Co., Ltd., Nanjing 210037, China; (Q.G.); (G.J.); (J.L.); (D.W.)
| | - Yucai He
- School of Pharmacy, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, China
| | - Qiuheng Jin
- Vazyme Biotech Co., Ltd., Nanjing 210037, China; (Q.G.); (G.J.); (J.L.); (D.W.)
| | - Jianren Ye
- College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China;
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3
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Feng S, Chen T, Zhang Y, Lu C. mRNA Fragmentation Pattern Detected by SHAPE. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2024; 46:10249-10258. [PMID: 39329962 PMCID: PMC11431040 DOI: 10.3390/cimb46090610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2024] [Revised: 09/12/2024] [Accepted: 09/14/2024] [Indexed: 09/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The success of messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines in controlling COVID-19 has warranted further developments in new technology. Currently, their quality control process largely relies on low-resolution electrophoresis for detecting chain breaks. Here, we present an approach using multi-primer reverse transcription sequencing (MPRT-seq) to identify degradation fragments in mRNA products. Using this in-house-made mRNA containing two antigens and untranslated regions (UTRs), we analyzed the mRNA completeness and degradation pattern at a nucleotide resolution. We then analyzed the sensitive base sequence and its correlation with the secondary structure. Our MPRT-seq mapping shows that certain sequences on the 5' of bulge-stem-loop structures can result in preferential chain breaks. Our results agree with commonly used capillary electrophoresis (CE) integrity analysis but at a much higher resolution, and can improve mRNA stability by providing information to remove sensitive structures or sequences in the mRNA sequence design.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Changrui Lu
- College of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China; (S.F.); (T.C.); (Y.Z.)
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4
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Buckland B, Sanyal G, Ranheim T, Pollard D, Searles JA, Behrens S, Pluschkell S, Josefsberg J, Roberts CJ. Vaccine process technology-A decade of progress. Biotechnol Bioeng 2024; 121:2604-2635. [PMID: 38711222 DOI: 10.1002/bit.28703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
In the past decade, new approaches to the discovery and development of vaccines have transformed the field. Advances during the COVID-19 pandemic allowed the production of billions of vaccine doses per year using novel platforms such as messenger RNA and viral vectors. Improvements in the analytical toolbox, equipment, and bioprocess technology have made it possible to achieve both unprecedented speed in vaccine development and scale of vaccine manufacturing. Macromolecular structure-function characterization technologies, combined with improved modeling and data analysis, enable quantitative evaluation of vaccine formulations at single-particle resolution and guided design of vaccine drug substances and drug products. These advances play a major role in precise assessment of critical quality attributes of vaccines delivered by newer platforms. Innovations in label-free and immunoassay technologies aid in the characterization of antigenic sites and the development of robust in vitro potency assays. These methods, along with molecular techniques such as next-generation sequencing, will accelerate characterization and release of vaccines delivered by all platforms. Process analytical technologies for real-time monitoring and optimization of process steps enable the implementation of quality-by-design principles and faster release of vaccine products. In the next decade, the field of vaccine discovery and development will continue to advance, bringing together new technologies, methods, and platforms to improve human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barry Buckland
- National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA
| | - Gautam Sanyal
- Vaccine Analytics, LLC, Kendall Park, New Jersey, USA
| | - Todd Ranheim
- Advanced Analytics Core, Resilience, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - David Pollard
- Sartorius, Corporate Research, Marlborough, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Sue Behrens
- Engineering and Biopharmaceutical Processing, Keck Graduate Institute, Claremont, California, USA
| | - Stefanie Pluschkell
- National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA
| | - Jessica Josefsberg
- Merck & Co., Inc., Process Research & Development, Rahway, New Jersey, USA
| | - Christopher J Roberts
- National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA
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5
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Guimaraes GJ, Kim J, Bartlett MG. Characterization of mRNA therapeutics. MASS SPECTROMETRY REVIEWS 2024; 43:1066-1090. [PMID: 37401740 DOI: 10.1002/mas.21856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
Therapeutic messenger RNAs (mRNAs) have emerged as powerful tools in the treatment of complex diseases, especially for conditions that lack efficacious treatment. The successful application of this modality can be attributed to its ability to encode entire proteins. While the large nature of these molecules has supported their success as therapeutics, its extended size creates several analytical challenges. To further support therapeutic mRNA development and its deployment in clinical trials, appropriate methods to support their characterization must be developed. In this review, we describe current analytical methods that have been used in the characterization of RNA quality, identity, and integrity. Advantages and limitations from several analytical techniques ranging from gel electrophoresis to liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and from shotgun sequencing to intact mass measurements are discussed. We comprehensively describe the application of analytical methods in the measurements of capping efficiency, poly A tail analysis, as well as their applicability in stability studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guilherme J Guimaraes
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Jaeah Kim
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Michael G Bartlett
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
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6
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Gritti F, Wyndham K. Retention mechanism in combined hydrodynamic and slalom chromatography for analyzing large nucleic acid biopolymers relevant to cell and gene therapies. J Chromatogr A 2024; 1730:465075. [PMID: 38909519 DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2024.465075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2024] [Revised: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024]
Abstract
Slalom chromatography (SC) was discovered in 1988 for analyzing double-stranded (ds) DNA. However, its progress was impeded by practical issues such as low-purity particles, sample loss, and lack of a clear retention mechanism. With the rise of cell and gene therapies and the availability today of bio-inert ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography (UHPLC) columns and systems, SC has regained interest. In SC, the elution order is opposite to that observed in hydrodynamic chromatography (HDC): larger DNA molecules are more retained than small ones. Yet, the underlying SC retention mechanism remains elusive. We provide the physicochemical background necessary to explain, at a microscopic scale, the full transition from a HDC to a SC retention mechanism. This includes the persistence length of the DNA macromolecule (representing DNA stiffness), their relaxation time (τR) from the non-equilibrium contour length to the equilibrium entropic configuration, and the relationship between the mobile phase shear rate (〈γ̇〉) in packed columns and the DNA extended length. We propose a relevant retention model to account for the simultaneous impact of hydrodynamic chromatography (HDC) and SC on the retention factors of a series of large and linear dsDNAs (ranging from 2 to 48 kbp). SC data were acquired using bio-inert MaxPeakTM Columns packed with 1.7μm BEHTM 45 Å, 1.8μm BEH 125 Å, 2.4μm BEH 125 Å, 5.3μm BEH 125 Å, and 11.3μm BEH 125 Å Particles, an ACQUITYTM UPLCTM I-class PLUS System, and either 1 × PBS (pH 7.4) or 100 mM phosphate buffer (pH 8) as the mobile phase. SC is a non-equilibrium retention mode that is dominant when the Weissenberg number (Wi=〈γ̇〉τR) is much larger than 10 and the average extended length of DNA exceeds the particle diameter. HDC, on the other hand, is an equilibrium retention mode that dominates when Wi<1 (DNA chains remaining in their non-extended configuration). Maximum dsDNA resolution is observed in a mixed HDC-SC retention mode when the extended length of the DNA is approximately half the particle diameter. This work facilitates the development of methods for characterizing various plasmid DNA mixtures, containing linear, supercoiled, and relaxed circular dsDNAs which all have different degree of molecular stiffness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabrice Gritti
- Waters Corporation, Instrument/Core Research/Fundamental, Milford, MA, 01757, USA.
| | - Kevin Wyndham
- Waters Corporation, Instrument/Core Research/Fundamental, Milford, MA, 01757, USA
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7
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Currie J, Dahlberg JR, Lundberg E, Thunberg L, Eriksson J, Schweikart F, Nilsson GA, Örnskov E. Stability indicating ion-pair reversed-phase liquid chromatography method for modified mRNA. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2024; 245:116144. [PMID: 38636193 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2024.116144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
Modified messenger RNA (mRNA) represents a rapidly emerging class of therapeutic drug product. Development of robust stability indicating methods for control of product quality are therefore critical to support successful pharmaceutical development. This paper presents an ion-pair reversed-phase liquid chromatography (IP-RPLC) method to characterise modified mRNA exposed to a wide set of stress-inducing conditions, relevant for pharmaceutical development of an mRNA drug product. The optimised method could be used for separation and analysis of large RNA, sized up to 1000 nucleotides. Column temperature, mobile phase flow rate and ion-pair selection were each studied and optimised. Baseline separations of the model RNA ladder sample were achieved using all examined ion-pairing agents. We established that the optimised method, using 100 mM Triethylamine, enabled the highest resolution separation for the largest fragments in the RNA ladder (750/1000 nucleotides), in addition to the highest overall resolution for the selected modified mRNA compound (eGFP mRNA, 996 nucleotides). The stability indicating power of the method was demonstrated by analysing the modified eGFP mRNA, upon direct exposure to heat, hydrolytic conditions and treatment with ribonucleases. Our results showed that the formed degradation products, which appeared as shorter RNA fragments in front of the main peak, could be well monitored, using the optimised method, and the relative stability of the mRNA under the various stressed conditions could be assessed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Currie
- Innovation Strategies and External Liaison, Pharmaceutical Technology and Development, Operations & IT, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Jacob R Dahlberg
- Advanced Drug Delivery, Pharmaceutical Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Ester Lundberg
- Advanced Drug Delivery, Pharmaceutical Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Linda Thunberg
- Early Chemical Development, Pharmaceutical Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Jonas Eriksson
- Advanced Drug Delivery, Pharmaceutical Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Fritz Schweikart
- Advanced Drug Delivery, Pharmaceutical Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Gunilla A Nilsson
- Advanced Drug Delivery, Pharmaceutical Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Eivor Örnskov
- Advanced Drug Delivery, Pharmaceutical Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden.
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8
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D’Atri V, Lardeux H, Goyon A, Imiołek M, Fekete S, Lauber M, Zhang K, Guillarme D. Optimizing Messenger RNA Analysis Using Ultra-Wide Pore Size Exclusion Chromatography Columns. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6254. [PMID: 38892442 PMCID: PMC11172508 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25116254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2024] [Revised: 06/04/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Biopharmaceutical products, in particular messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA), have the potential to dramatically improve the quality of life for patients suffering from respiratory and infectious diseases, rare genetic disorders, and cancer. However, the quality and safety of such products are particularly critical for patients and require close scrutiny. Key product-related impurities, such as fragments and aggregates, among others, can significantly reduce the efficacy of mRNA therapies. In the present work, the possibilities offered by size exclusion chromatography (SEC) for the characterization of mRNA samples were explored using state-of-the-art ultra-wide pore columns with average pore diameters of 1000 and 2500 Å. Our investigation shows that a column with 1000 Å pores proved to be optimal for the analysis of mRNA products, whatever the size between 500 and 5000 nucleotides (nt). We also studied the influence of mobile phase composition and found that the addition of 10 mM magnesium chloride (MgCl2) can be beneficial in improving the resolution and recovery of large size variants for some mRNA samples. We demonstrate that caution should be exercised when increasing column length or decreasing the flow rate. While these adjustments slightly improve resolution, they also lead to an apparent increase in the amount of low-molecular-weight species (LMWS) and monomer peak tailing, which can be attributed to the prolonged residence time inside the column. Finally, our optimal SEC method has been successfully applied to a wide range of mRNA products, ranging from 1000 to 4500 nt in length, as well as mRNA from different suppliers and stressed/unstressed samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina D’Atri
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva, CMU—Rue Michel Servet 1, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland; (V.D.); (H.L.)
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Western Switzerland, University of Geneva, CMU—Rue Michel Servet 1, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Honorine Lardeux
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva, CMU—Rue Michel Servet 1, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland; (V.D.); (H.L.)
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Western Switzerland, University of Geneva, CMU—Rue Michel Servet 1, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Alexandre Goyon
- Synthetic Molecule Analytical Chemistry, Genentech Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA; (A.G.); (K.Z.)
| | - Mateusz Imiołek
- Waters Corporation, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland; (M.I.); (S.F.)
| | - Szabolcs Fekete
- Waters Corporation, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland; (M.I.); (S.F.)
| | | | - Kelly Zhang
- Synthetic Molecule Analytical Chemistry, Genentech Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA; (A.G.); (K.Z.)
| | - Davy Guillarme
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva, CMU—Rue Michel Servet 1, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland; (V.D.); (H.L.)
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Western Switzerland, University of Geneva, CMU—Rue Michel Servet 1, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
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9
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He W, Zhang X, Zou Y, Li J, Wang C, He Y, Jin Q, Ye J. Effective Synthesis of High-Integrity mRNA Using In Vitro Transcription. Molecules 2024; 29:2461. [PMID: 38893337 PMCID: PMC11173937 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29112461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2024] [Revised: 05/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
mRNA vaccines are entering a period of rapid development. However, their synthesis is still plagued by challenges related to mRNA impurities and fragments (incomplete mRNA). Most impurities of mRNA products transcribed in vitro are mRNA fragments. Only full-length mRNA transcripts containing both a 5'-cap and a 3'-poly(A) structure are viable for in vivo expression. Therefore, RNA fragments are the primary product-related impurities that significantly hinder mRNA efficacy and must be effectively controlled; these species are believed to originate from either mRNA hydrolysis or premature transcriptional termination. In the manufacturing of commercial mRNA vaccines, T7 RNA polymerase-catalyzed in vitro transcription (IVT) synthesis is a well-established method for synthesizing long RNA transcripts. This study identified a pivotal domain on the T7 RNA polymerase that is associated with erroneous mRNA release. By leveraging the advantageous properties of a T7 RNA polymerase mutant and precisely optimized IVT process parameters, we successfully achieved an mRNA integrity exceeding 91%, thereby further unlocking the immense potential of mRNA therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei He
- College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China;
- Vazyme Biotech Co., Ltd., Nanjing 210037, China; (X.Z.); (Y.Z.); (J.L.); (C.W.)
| | - Xinya Zhang
- Vazyme Biotech Co., Ltd., Nanjing 210037, China; (X.Z.); (Y.Z.); (J.L.); (C.W.)
| | - Yangxiaoyu Zou
- Vazyme Biotech Co., Ltd., Nanjing 210037, China; (X.Z.); (Y.Z.); (J.L.); (C.W.)
| | - Ji Li
- Vazyme Biotech Co., Ltd., Nanjing 210037, China; (X.Z.); (Y.Z.); (J.L.); (C.W.)
| | - Chong Wang
- Vazyme Biotech Co., Ltd., Nanjing 210037, China; (X.Z.); (Y.Z.); (J.L.); (C.W.)
| | - Yucai He
- School of Pharmacy, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, China
| | - Qiuheng Jin
- Vazyme Biotech Co., Ltd., Nanjing 210037, China; (X.Z.); (Y.Z.); (J.L.); (C.W.)
| | - Jianren Ye
- College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China;
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10
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De Vos J, Morreel K, Alvarez P, Vanluchene H, Vankeirsbilck R, Sandra P, Sandra K. Evaluation of size-exclusion chromatography, multi-angle light scattering detection and mass photometry for the characterization of mRNA. J Chromatogr A 2024; 1719:464756. [PMID: 38402695 DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2024.464756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
The recent approval of messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) as vaccine to combat the COVID-19 pandemic has been a scientific turning point. Today, the applicability of mRNA is being demonstrated beyond infectious diseases, for example in cancer immunotherapy, protein replacement therapy and gene editing. mRNA is produced by in vitro transcription (IVT) from a linear DNA template and modified at the 3' and 5' ends to improve translational efficiency and stability. Co-existing impurities such as RNA fragments and double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), amongst others, can drastically impact mRNA quality and efficacy. In this study, size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) is evaluated for the characterization of IVT-mRNA. The effect of mobile phase composition (ionic strength and organic modifier), pH, column temperature and pore size (300 Å, 1000 Å, and 2000 Å) on the separation performance and structural integrity of IVT-mRNA varying in size is described. Non-replicating, self-amplifying (saRNA), temperature degraded, and ribonuclease (RNase) digested mRNA, the latter to characterize the 3' poly(A) tail, were included in the study. Beyond ultraviolet (UV) detection, refractive index (RI) and multi-angle light scattering (MALS) detection were implemented to accurately determine molecular weight (MW) of mRNA. Finally, mass photometry is introduced as a complementary methodology to study mRNA under native conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jelle De Vos
- RIC group, President Kennedypark 6, 8500 Kortrijk, Belgium
| | - Kris Morreel
- RIC group, President Kennedypark 6, 8500 Kortrijk, Belgium
| | - Piotr Alvarez
- RIC group, President Kennedypark 6, 8500 Kortrijk, Belgium
| | | | | | - Pat Sandra
- RIC group, President Kennedypark 6, 8500 Kortrijk, Belgium
| | - Koen Sandra
- RIC group, President Kennedypark 6, 8500 Kortrijk, Belgium.
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11
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Camperi J, Lippold S, Ayalew L, Roper B, Shao S, Freund E, Nissenbaum A, Galan C, Cao Q, Yang F, Yu C, Guilbaud A. Comprehensive Impurity Profiling of mRNA: Evaluating Current Technologies and Advanced Analytical Techniques. Anal Chem 2024; 96:3886-3897. [PMID: 38377434 PMCID: PMC10918618 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c05539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
In vitro transcription (IVT) of mRNA is a versatile platform for a broad range of biotechnological applications. Its rapid, scalable, and cost-effective production makes it a compelling choice for the development of mRNA-based cancer therapies and vaccines against infectious diseases. The impurities generated during mRNA production can potentially impact the safety and efficacy of mRNA therapeutics, but their structural complexity has not been investigated in detail yet. This study pioneers a comprehensive profiling of IVT mRNA impurities, integrating current technologies with innovative analytical tools. We have developed highly reproducible, efficient, and stability-indicating ion-pair reversed-phase liquid chromatography and capillary gel electrophoresis methods to determine the purity of mRNA from different suppliers. Furthermore, we introduced the applicability of microcapillary electrophoresis for high-throughput (<1.5 min analysis time per sample) mRNA impurity profiling. Our findings revealed that impurities are mainly attributed to mRNA variants with different poly(A) tail lengths due to aborted additions or partial hydrolysis and the presence of double-stranded mRNA (dsRNA) byproducts, particularly the dsRNA 3'-loop back form. We also implemented mass photometry and native mass spectrometry for the characterization of mRNA and its related product impurities. Mass photometry enabled the determination of the number of nucleotides of different mRNAs with high accuracy as well as the detection of their size variants [i.e., aggregates and partial and/or total absence of the poly(A) tail], thus providing valuable information on mRNA identity and integrity. In addition, native mass spectrometry provided insights into mRNA intact mass, heterogeneity, and important sequence features such as poly(A) tail length and distribution. This study highlights the existing bottlenecks and opportunities for improvement in the analytical characterization of IVT mRNA, thus contributing to the refinement and streamlining of mRNA production, paving the way for continued advancements in biotechnological applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien Camperi
- Cell
Therapy Engineering and Development, Genentech, 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Steffen Lippold
- Protein
Analytical Chemistry, Genentech, 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Luladey Ayalew
- Cell
Therapy Engineering and Development, Genentech, 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Brian Roper
- Cell
Therapy Engineering and Development, Genentech, 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Stephanie Shao
- Cell
Therapy Engineering and Development, Genentech, 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Emily Freund
- Department
of Molecular Biology, Genentech, 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Ariane Nissenbaum
- Department
of Molecular Biology, Genentech, 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Carolina Galan
- Department
of Molecular Biology, Genentech, 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Qinjingwen Cao
- Protein
Analytical Chemistry, Genentech, 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Feng Yang
- Protein
Analytical Chemistry, Genentech, 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Christopher Yu
- Cell
Therapy Engineering and Development, Genentech, 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Axel Guilbaud
- Protein
Analytical Chemistry, Genentech, 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
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12
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Zhang H, Vandesompele J, Braeckmans K, De Smedt SC, Remaut K. Nucleic acid degradation as barrier to gene delivery: a guide to understand and overcome nuclease activity. Chem Soc Rev 2024; 53:317-360. [PMID: 38073448 DOI: 10.1039/d3cs00194f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Gene therapy is on its way to revolutionize the treatment of both inherited and acquired diseases, by transferring nucleic acids to correct a disease-causing gene in the target cells of patients. In the fight against infectious diseases, mRNA-based therapeutics have proven to be a viable strategy in the recent Covid-19 pandemic. Although a growing number of gene therapies have been approved, the success rate is limited when compared to the large number of preclinical and clinical trials that have been/are being performed. In this review, we highlight some of the hurdles which gene therapies encounter after administration into the human body, with a focus on nucleic acid degradation by nucleases that are extremely abundant in mammalian organs, biological fluids as well as in subcellular compartments. We overview the available strategies to reduce the biodegradation of gene therapeutics after administration, including chemical modifications of the nucleic acids, encapsulation into vectors and co-administration with nuclease inhibitors and discuss which strategies are applied for clinically approved nucleic acid therapeutics. In the final part, we discuss the currently available methods and techniques to qualify and quantify the integrity of nucleic acids, with their own strengths and limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heyang Zhang
- Laboratory for General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
- Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, 2333 CC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Jo Vandesompele
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Kevin Braeckmans
- Laboratory for General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
- Centre for Nano- and Biophotonics, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Stefaan C De Smedt
- Laboratory for General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
- Centre for Nano- and Biophotonics, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Katrien Remaut
- Laboratory for General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
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13
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Casmil IC, Huang C, Blakney AK. A duplex droplet digital PCR assay for absolute quantification and characterization of long self-amplifying RNA. Sci Rep 2023; 13:19050. [PMID: 37923834 PMCID: PMC10624827 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-46314-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Self-amplifying messenger ribonucleic acid (saRNA) provides extended expression of genes of interest by encoding an alphavirus-derived RNA replicase and thus is 2-3 times larger than conventional messenger RNA. However, quality assessment of long RNA transcripts is challenging using standard techniques. Here, we utilized a multiplex droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) assay to assess the quality of saRNA produced from an in vitro transcription reaction and the replication kinetics in human cell lines. Using the one-step reverse transcription ddPCR, we show that an in vitro transcription generates 50-60% full-length saRNA transcripts. However, we note that the two-step reverse transcription ddPCR assay results in a 20% decrease from results obtained using the one-step and confirmed using capillary gel electrophoresis. Additionally, we provided three formulas that differ in the level of stringency and assumptions made to calculate the fraction of intact saRNA. Using ddPCR, we also showed that subgenomic transcripts of saRNA were 19-to-108-fold higher than genomic transcripts at different hours post-transfection of mammalian cells in copies. Therefore, we demonstrate that multiplex ddPCR is well suited for quality assessment of long RNA and replication kinetics of saRNA based on absolute quantification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irafasha C Casmil
- Michael Smith Laboratories, School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Cynthia Huang
- Michael Smith Laboratories, School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Anna K Blakney
- Michael Smith Laboratories, School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada.
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14
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Goyon A, Tang S, Fekete S, Nguyen D, Hofmann K, Wang S, Shatz-Binder W, Fernandez KI, Hecht ES, Lauber M, Zhang K. Separation of Plasmid DNA Topological Forms, Messenger RNA, and Lipid Nanoparticle Aggregates Using an Ultrawide Pore Size Exclusion Chromatography Column. Anal Chem 2023; 95:15017-15024. [PMID: 37747361 PMCID: PMC10568528 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c02944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
Health authorities have highlighted the need to determine oligonucleotide aggregates. However, existing technologies have limitations that have prevented the reliable analysis of size variants for large nucleic acids and lipid nanoparticles (LNPs). In this work, nucleic acid and LNP aggregation was examined using prototype, low adsorption ultrawide pore size exclusion chromatography (SEC) columns. A preliminary study was conducted to determine the column's physicochemical properties. A large difference in aggregate content (17.8 vs 59.7 %) was found for a model messenger RNA (mRNA) produced by different manufacturers. We further investigated the nature of the aggregates via a heat treatment. Interestingly, thermal stress irreversibly decreased the amount of aggregates from 59.7 to 4.1% and increased the main peak area 3.3-fold. To the best of our knowledge, for the first time, plasmid DNA topological forms and multimers were separated by analytical SEC. The degradation trends were compared to the data obtained with an anion exchange chromatography method. Finally, unconjugated and fragment antigen-binding (Fab)-guided LNPs were analyzed and their elution times were plotted against their sizes as measured by DLS. Multi-angle light scattering (MALS) was coupled to SEC in order to gain further insights on large species eluting before the LNPs, which were later identified as self-associating LNPs. This study demonstrated the utility of ultrawide pore SEC columns in characterizing the size variants of large nucleic acid therapeutics and LNPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre Goyon
- Synthetic
Molecule Analytical Chemistry, Genentech, 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Shijia Tang
- Synthetic
Molecule Analytical Chemistry, Genentech, 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Szabolcs Fekete
- Consumables
and Lab Automation, Waters Corporation, CMU-Rue Michel Servet 1, Geneva 4 1211, Switzerland
| | - Daniel Nguyen
- Synthetic
Molecule Analytical Chemistry, Genentech, 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Kate Hofmann
- Synthetic
Molecule Analytical Chemistry, Genentech, 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Shirley Wang
- Synthetic
Molecule Analytical Chemistry, Genentech, 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Whitney Shatz-Binder
- Pharmaceutical
Development, Genentech, 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Kiel Izabelle Fernandez
- Pharmaceutical
Development, Genentech, 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Elizabeth S. Hecht
- Microchemistry,
Proteomics, and Lipidomics, Genentech, 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Matthew Lauber
- Consumables
and Lab Automation, Waters Corporation, 34 Maple Street, Milford, Massachusetts 01757, United States
| | - Kelly Zhang
- Synthetic
Molecule Analytical Chemistry, Genentech, 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
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15
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Niu D, Wu Y, Lian J. Circular RNA vaccine in disease prevention and treatment. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:341. [PMID: 37691066 PMCID: PMC10493228 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01561-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2023] [Revised: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
CircRNAs are a class of single-stranded RNAs with covalently linked head-to-tail topology. In the decades since its initial discovery, their biogenesis, regulation, and function have rapidly disclosed, permitting a better understanding and adoption of them as new tools for medical applications. With the development of biotechnology and molecular medicine, artificial circRNAs have been engineered as a novel class of vaccines for disease treatment and prevention. Unlike the linear mRNA vaccine which applications were limited by its instability, inefficiency, and innate immunogenicity, circRNA vaccine which incorporate internal ribosome entry sites (IRESs) and open reading frame (ORF) provides an improved approach to RNA-based vaccination with safety, stability, simplicity of manufacture, and scalability. However, circRNA vaccines are at an early stage, and their optimization, delivery and applications require further development and evaluation. In this review, we comprehensively describe circRNA vaccine, including their history and superiority. We also summarize and discuss the current methodological research for circRNA vaccine preparation, including their design, synthesis, and purification. Finally, we highlight the delivery options of circRNA vaccine and its potential applications in diseases treatment and prevention. Considering their unique high stability, low immunogenicity, protein/peptide-coding capacity and special closed-loop construction, circRNA vaccine, and circRNA-based therapeutic platforms may have superior application prospects in a broad range of diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dun Niu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Southwest Hospital, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), 400038, Chongqing, China
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), 400038, Chongqing, China
| | - Yaran Wu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Southwest Hospital, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), 400038, Chongqing, China
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), 400038, Chongqing, China
| | - Jiqin Lian
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Southwest Hospital, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), 400038, Chongqing, China.
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), 400038, Chongqing, China.
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16
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Holland LA, Casto-Boggess LD. Gels in Microscale Electrophoresis. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY (PALO ALTO, CALIF.) 2023; 16:161-179. [PMID: 37314879 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-anchem-091522-080207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Gel matrices are fundamental to electrophoresis analyses of biopolymers in microscale channels. Both capillary gel and microchannel gel electrophoresis systems have produced fundamental advances in the scientific community. These analytical techniques remain as foundational tools in bioanalytical chemistry and are indispensable in the field of biotherapeutics. This review summarizes the current state of gels in microscale channels and provides a brief description of electrophoretic transport in gels. In addition to the discussion of traditional polymers, several nontraditional gels are introduced. Advances in gel matrices highlighted include selective polymers modified to contain added functionality as well as thermally responsive gels formed through self-assembly. This review discusses cutting-edge applications to challenging areas of discovery in DNA, RNA, protein, and glycan analyses. Finally, emerging techniques that result in multifunctional assays for real-time biochemical processing in capillary and three-dimensional channels are identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa A Holland
- C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA;
| | - Laura D Casto-Boggess
- C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA;
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17
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Minkner R, Boonyakida J, Park EY, Wätzig H. Oligonucleotide separation techniques for purification and analysis: What can we learn for today's tasks? Electrophoresis 2022; 43:2402-2427. [PMID: 36285667 DOI: 10.1002/elps.202200079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Nucleic acids are the blueprint of life. They are not only the construction plan of the single cell or higher associations of them, but also necessary for function, communication and regulation. Due to the pandemic, the attention shifted in particular to their therapeutic potential as a vaccine. As pharmaceutical oligonucleotides are unique in terms of their stability and application, special delivery systems were also considered. Oligonucleotide production systems can vary and depend on the feasibility, availability, price and intended application. To achieve good purity, reliable results and match the strict specifications in the pharmaceutical industry, the separation of oligonucleotides is always essential. Besides the separation required for production, additional and specifically different separation techniques are needed for analysis to determine if the product complies with the designated specifications. After a short introduction to ribonucleic acids (RNAs), messenger RNA vaccines, and their production and delivery systems, an overview regarding separation techniques will be provided. This not only emphasises electrophoretic separations but also includes spin columns, extractions, precipitations, magnetic nanoparticles and several chromatographic separation principles, such as ion exchange chromatography, ion-pair reversed-phase, size exclusion and affinity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Minkner
- Institute of Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Jirayu Boonyakida
- Department of Bioscience, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, Shizuoka, Japan.,Laboratory of Biotechnology, Green Chemistry Research Division, Research Institute of Green Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Enoch Y Park
- Department of Bioscience, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, Shizuoka, Japan.,Laboratory of Biotechnology, Green Chemistry Research Division, Research Institute of Green Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Hermann Wätzig
- Institute of Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
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18
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Novel bovine serum album and β-cyclodextrin-based mixed chiral stationary phase for the enantioseparation in capillary electrochromatography. Microchem J 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.microc.2022.107763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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19
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Fluorinated covalent organic frameworks as a stationary phase for separation of fluoroquinolones by capillary electrochromatography. Mikrochim Acta 2022; 189:237. [DOI: 10.1007/s00604-022-05333-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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20
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Hong T, Liu X, Zhou Q, Liu Y, Guo J, Zhou W, Tan S, Cai Z. What the Microscale Systems "See" In Biological Assemblies: Cells and Viruses? Anal Chem 2021; 94:59-74. [PMID: 34812604 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.1c04244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Hong
- School of Pharmacy, Changzhou University, Changzhou, Jiangsu 213164, China
| | - Xing Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Changzhou University, Changzhou, Jiangsu 213164, China
| | - Qi Zhou
- School of Pharmacy, Changzhou University, Changzhou, Jiangsu 213164, China
| | - Yilian Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Changzhou University, Changzhou, Jiangsu 213164, China
| | - Jing Guo
- School of Pharmacy, Changzhou University, Changzhou, Jiangsu 213164, China
| | - Wenhu Zhou
- Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, 172 Tongzipo Road, Changsha, Hunan 410013, China
| | - Songwen Tan
- Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, 172 Tongzipo Road, Changsha, Hunan 410013, China.,Jiangsu Dawning Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Changzhou, Jiangsu 213100, China
| | - Zhiqiang Cai
- School of Pharmacy, Changzhou University, Changzhou, Jiangsu 213164, China.,Jiangsu Dawning Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Changzhou, Jiangsu 213100, China
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21
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Raffaele J, Loughney JW, Rustandi RR. Development of a microchip capillary electrophoresis method for determination of the purity and integrity of mRNA in lipid nanoparticle vaccines. Electrophoresis 2021; 43:1101-1106. [PMID: 34806186 PMCID: PMC9011815 DOI: 10.1002/elps.202100272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Messenger RNA (mRNA)‐based vaccines are advantageous because they can be relatively quicker and more cost efficient to manufacture compared to other traditional vaccine products. Lipid nanoparticles have three common purposes: delivery, self‐adjuvanting properties, and mRNA protection. Faster vaccine development requires an efficient and fast assay to monitor mRNA purity and integrity. Microchip CE is known to be a robust technology that is capable of rapid separation. Here, we describe the development and optimization of a purity and integrity assay for mRNA‐based vaccines encapsulated in lipid nanoparticles using commercial microchip‐based separation. The analytical parameters of the optimized assay were assessed and the method is a stability indicating assay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Raffaele
- Analytical Research & Development, Merck & Co., Inc., West Point, PA, 19486, USA
| | - John W Loughney
- Analytical Research & Development, Merck & Co., Inc., West Point, PA, 19486, USA
| | - Richard R Rustandi
- Analytical Research & Development, Merck & Co., Inc., West Point, PA, 19486, USA
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22
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Kumar R, Guttman A, Rathore AS. Applications of capillary electrophoresis for biopharmaceutical product characterization. Electrophoresis 2021; 43:143-166. [PMID: 34591322 DOI: 10.1002/elps.202100182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Revised: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Capillary electrophoresis (CE), after being introduced several decades ago, has carved out a niche for itself in the field of analytical characterization of biopharmaceutical products. It does not only offer fast separation, high resolution in miniaturized format, but equally importantly represents an orthogonal separation mechanism to high-performance liquid chromatography. Therefore, it is not surprising that CE-based methods can be found in all major pharmacopoeias and are recommended for the analysis of biopharmaceutical products during process development, characterization, quality control, and release testing. Different separation formats of CE, such as capillary gel electrophoresis, capillary isoelectric focusing, and capillary zone electrophoresis are widely used for size and charge heterogeneity characterization as well as purity and stability testing of therapeutic proteins. Hyphenation of CE with MS is emerging as a promising bioanalytical tool to assess the primary structure of therapeutic proteins along with any impurities. In this review, we confer the latest developments in capillary electrophoresis, used for the characterization of critical quality attributes of biopharmaceutical products covering the past 6 years (2015-2021). Monoclonal antibodies, due to their significant share in the market, have been given prioritized coverage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramesh Kumar
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi, India
| | - Andras Guttman
- Horváth Csaba Memorial Laboratories of Bioseparation Sciences, Research Center for Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.,Translational Glycomics Group, Research Institute of Biomolecular and Chemical Engineering, University of Pannonia, Veszprem, Hungary
| | - Anurag S Rathore
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi, India
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23
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Demelenne A, Servais AC, Crommen J, Fillet M. Analytical techniques currently used in the pharmaceutical industry for the quality control of RNA-based therapeutics and ongoing developments. J Chromatogr A 2021; 1651:462283. [PMID: 34107400 DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2021.462283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
The number of RNA-based therapeutics has significantly grown in number on the market over the last 20 years. This number is expected to further increase in the coming years as many RNA therapeutics are being tested in late clinical trials stages. The first part of this paper considers the mechanism of action, the synthesis and the potential impurities resulting from synthesis as well as the strategies used to increase RNA-based therapeutics efficacy. In the second part of this review, the tests that are usually performed in the pharmaceutical industry for the quality testing of antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), small-interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and messenger RNAs (mRNAs) will be described. In the last part, the remaining challenges and the ongoing developments to meet them are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Demelenne
- Laboratory for the Analysis of Medicines, Department of Pharmacy, Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Medicines (CIRM), University of Liege, Quartier Hôpital, Avenue Hippocrate 15, CHU, B36, Liege 4000, Belgium
| | - Anne-Catherine Servais
- Laboratory for the Analysis of Medicines, Department of Pharmacy, Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Medicines (CIRM), University of Liege, Quartier Hôpital, Avenue Hippocrate 15, CHU, B36, Liege 4000, Belgium
| | - Jacques Crommen
- Laboratory for the Analysis of Medicines, Department of Pharmacy, Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Medicines (CIRM), University of Liege, Quartier Hôpital, Avenue Hippocrate 15, CHU, B36, Liege 4000, Belgium
| | - Marianne Fillet
- Laboratory for the Analysis of Medicines, Department of Pharmacy, Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Medicines (CIRM), University of Liege, Quartier Hôpital, Avenue Hippocrate 15, CHU, B36, Liege 4000, Belgium.
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24
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Ma M, Du Y, Zhang L, Gan J, Yang J. β-Cyclodextrin covalent organic framework-modified organic polymer monolith as a stationary phase for combined hydrophilic and hydrophobic aqueous capillary electrochromatographic separation of small molecules. Mikrochim Acta 2020; 187:385. [PMID: 32533434 DOI: 10.1007/s00604-020-04360-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Accepted: 05/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
A β-Cyclodextrin covalent organic framework (β-CD COF) was successfully prepared under ambient temperature with a mild chemistry strategy from heptakis(6-amino-6-deoxy)-β-cyclodextrin and terephthalaldehyde. It was embedded into the poly[(glycidyl methacrylate)-co-(ethylene dimethacrylate)] [poly(GMA-co-EDMA)] monolith and served as the β-CD COF material-incorporated monolith. The synthetic materials were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray mapping analysis, transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and N2 adsorption-desorption isotherm. The β-CD COF material-incorporated monolith achieved baseline separation in capillary electrochromatographic separation of three amides, three amino acids, three nucleosides, four aromatic acids, and three positional isomers (with resolution values of three amides, 1.75 and 1.54; three amino acids, 5.24 and 1.75; three nucleosides, 2.56 and 1.77; four aromatic acids, 6.96, 2.74, and 1.64; three positional isomers, 1.61 and 1.50). In comparison with the original monolith, the β-CD COF material-incorporated monolith shows significantly enhanced resolution for mixed molecules. The effect of pH and concentration of buffer and applied voltage were discussed in detail. The fabricated monolith showed good stability and reproducibility (relative standard deviation (RSD) < 6.9%). Molecular modeling illuminated the interactions between the small molecules and stationary phase, and provided a sufficient theoretical basis for experimental data. Graphical abstract Schematic presentation of the preparation of β-cyclodextrin covalent organic framework (β-CD COF) material-incorporated organic polymer monolith for separating the amides, amino acids, nucleosides, aromatic acids, and positional isomers. β-CD COF materials were synthesized and incorporated into the monolith as the stationary phase. Then, the incorporated monolith was applied in the capillary electrochromatography system for separating small molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingxuan Ma
- Key Laboratory of Drug Quality Control and Pharmacovigilance (Ministry of Education), China Pharmaceutical University, No. 24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210009, People's Republic of China.,State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, No. 24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Yingxiang Du
- Key Laboratory of Drug Quality Control and Pharmacovigilance (Ministry of Education), China Pharmaceutical University, No. 24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210009, People's Republic of China. .,State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, No. 24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210009, People's Republic of China.
| | - Liu Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Drug Quality Control and Pharmacovigilance (Ministry of Education), China Pharmaceutical University, No. 24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210009, People's Republic of China.,State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, No. 24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Jie Gan
- Key Laboratory of Drug Quality Control and Pharmacovigilance (Ministry of Education), China Pharmaceutical University, No. 24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210009, People's Republic of China.,State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, No. 24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiangxia Yang
- Key Laboratory of Drug Quality Control and Pharmacovigilance (Ministry of Education), China Pharmaceutical University, No. 24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210009, People's Republic of China.,State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, No. 24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210009, People's Republic of China
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25
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Kitagawa F, Ohashi M, Naraoka R, Kondo H, Kudo N, Okazaki M, Nukatsuka I. Nonaqueous capillary gel electrophoretic analysis of metal nanoclusters in polymeric-DMSO-Li + systems. Electrophoresis 2020; 41:1400-1404. [PMID: 32462661 DOI: 10.1002/elps.202000099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2020] [Revised: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
In this study, we investigated a combination of nonaqueous CE with capillary gel electrophoresis to achieve highly efficient analysis of metal nanoclusters. In the nonaqueous capillary gel electrophoresis (NACGE), PVA and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose were dissolved in DMSO. In addition, to enhance the entanglement of the polymer chains, Li+ ions were also added. By employing the PVA-DMSO-Li+ solution, we studied the effects of the molecular weight, the degree of hydrolysis, and the concentration of the polymers and Li+ on the separation. As a result, good separations of standard mononuclear metal complexes and tetrairon nanoclusters were achieved by NACGE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fumihiko Kitagawa
- Department of Frontier Materials Chemistry, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Hirosaki University, Hirosaki, Aomori, Japan
| | - Mika Ohashi
- Department of Frontier Materials Chemistry, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Hirosaki University, Hirosaki, Aomori, Japan
| | - Reo Naraoka
- Department of Frontier Materials Chemistry, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Hirosaki University, Hirosaki, Aomori, Japan
| | - Haruna Kondo
- Department of Frontier Materials Chemistry, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Hirosaki University, Hirosaki, Aomori, Japan
| | - Naotsugu Kudo
- Department of Frontier Materials Chemistry, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Hirosaki University, Hirosaki, Aomori, Japan
| | - Masaaki Okazaki
- Department of Frontier Materials Chemistry, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Hirosaki University, Hirosaki, Aomori, Japan
| | - Isoshi Nukatsuka
- Department of Frontier Materials Chemistry, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Hirosaki University, Hirosaki, Aomori, Japan
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