Two Dimensional Anion Exchange-Size Exclusion Chromatography Combined with Mathematical Modeling for Downstream Processing of Foot and Mouth Disease Vaccine

Vaccine process technology-A decade of progress

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.

Sequential purification of cannabidiol by two-dimensional liquid chromatography combined with modeling and simulation of elution profiles

Cannabidiol (CBD) has garnered significant attention for its neuroprotective properties, and research on its therapeutic effects has increased dramatically in recent years. However, the systematic purification of CBD through scalable processes has remained bottleneck due to the structural similarities of the cannabinoids. Although preparative chromatography is considered as a potential solution, it is usually time-consuming and expensive. Therefore, the development of scalable strategy via fast and accurate optimization approach is crucial. The present study aimed to develop a sequential process for the scalable purification of CBD through an eco-friendly ethanolic extraction using ultrasonic assisted extraction, decarboxylation of cannabidiolic acid optimized by response surface methodology, followed by the development of off-line two-dimensional semi-preparative chromatography, boosted with stacked injection overloading. In the first dimension, a column packed with macroporous resin allows to enrich the target substance and then, the behavior of resin column for scale-up procedure were predicted and optimized by developed mathematical model. A C18 column was used in the second dimension. The CBD purity and recovery obtained were 94.3 and 82.1 %, respectively. A robust and reliable method was employed for CBD enrichment/purification, which can be generalized to other bioactive compounds in complex matrices.

Evaluation of the Robustness Verification of Downstream Production Process for Inactivated SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine and Different Chromatography Medium Purification Effects

BACKGROUND

Large-scale vaccine production requires downstream processing that focuses on robustness, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness.

METHODS

To assess the robustness of the current vaccine production process, three batches of COVID-19 Omicron BA.1 strain hydrolytic concentrated solutions were selected. Four gel filtration chromatography media (Chromstar 6FF, Singarose FF, Bestarose 6B, and Focurose 6FF) and four ion exchange chromatography media (Maxtar Q, Q Singarose, Diamond Q, and Q Focurose) were used to evaluate their impact on vaccine purification. The quality of the vaccine was assessed by analyzing total protein content, antigen content, residual Vero cell DNA, residual Vero cell protein, and residual bovine serum albumin (BSA). Antigen recovery rate and specific activity were also calculated. Statistical analysis was conducted to evaluate process robustness and the purification effects of the chromatography media.

RESULTS

The statistical analysis revealed no significant differences in antigen recovery (p = 0.10), Vero HCP residue (p = 0.59), Vero DNA residue (p = 0.28), and BSA residue (p = 0.97) among the three batches of hydrolytic concentrated solutions processed according to the current method. However, a significant difference (p < 0.001) was observed in antigen content.

CONCLUSIONS

The study demonstrated the remarkable robustness of the current downstream process for producing WIBP-CorV vaccines. This process can adapt to different batches of hydrolytic concentrated solutions and various chromatography media. The research is crucial for the production of inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccines and provides a potential template for purifying other viruses.

Advances in modeling techniques for the production and purification of biomolecules: A comprehensive review

In response to the growing demand for therapeutic biomolecules, there is a need for continuous and cost-effective bio-separation techniques to enhance extraction yield and efficiency. Aqueous biphasic extractive fermentation has emerged as an integrated downstream processing technique, offering selective partitioning, high productivity, and preservation of biomolecule integrity. However, the dynamic nature of this technique requires a comprehensive understanding of the underlying separation mechanisms. Unfortunately, the analysis of parameters influencing this dynamic behavior can be challenging due to limited resources and time. To address this, mathematical modeling approaches can be employed to minimize the tedious trial-and-error experimentation process. This review article presents mathematical modeling approaches for both upstream and downstream processing techniques, focusing on the production of biomolecules which can be used in pharmaceutical industries in a cost-effective manner. By leveraging mathematical models, researchers can optimize the production and purification processes, leading to improved efficiency and processing cost reduction in biomolecule production.

Affinity and Pseudo-Affinity Membrane Chromatography for Viral Vector and Vaccine Purifications: A Review

Several chromatographic approaches have been established over the last decades for the production of pharmaceutically relevant viruses. Due to the large size of these products compared to other biopharmaceuticals, e.g., proteins, convective flow media have proven to be superior to bead-based resins in terms of process productivity and column capacity. One representative of such convective flow materials is membranes, which can be modified to suit the particular operating principle and are also suitable for economical single-use applications. Among the different membrane variants, affinity surfaces allow for the most selective separation of the target molecule from other components in the feed solution, especially from host cell-derived DNA and proteins. A successful membrane affinity chromatography, however, requires the identification and implementation of ligands, which can be applied economically while at the same time being stable during the process and non-toxic in the case of any leaching. This review summarizes the current evaluation of membrane-based affinity purifications for viruses and virus-like particles, including traditional resin and monolith approaches and the advantages of membrane applications. An overview of potential affinity ligands is given, as well as considerations of suitable affinity platform technologies, e.g., for different virus serotypes, including a description of processes using pseudo-affinity matrices, such as sulfated cellulose membrane adsorbers.