A robust and efficient alluvial filtration method for the clarification of adeno-associated viruses from crude cell lysates

Efficient and scalable clarification of Orf virus from HEK suspension for vaccine development

The Orf virus (ORFV) is a promising vector platform for the generation of vaccines against infectious diseases and cancer, highlighted by its progression to clinical testing phases. One of the critical steps during GMP manufacturing is the clarification of crude harvest because of the enveloped nature and large size of ORFV. This study presents the first description of ORFV clarification process from a HEK suspension batch process. We examined various filter materials, membrane pore sizes, harvest timings, and nuclease treatments. Employing the Ambr® crossflow system for high-throughput, small-volume experiments, we identified polypropylene-based Sartopure® PP3 filters as ideal. These filters, used in two consecutive stages with reducing pore sizes, significantly enhanced ORFV recovery and addressed scalability challenges. Moreover, we demonstrated that the time of harvest and the use of a nuclease play a decisive role to increase ORFV yields. With these findings, we were able to establish an efficient and scalable clarification process of ORFV derived from a suspension production process, essential for advancing ORFV vaccine manufacturing.

Adsorptive removal of organic pollutants from aqueous solutions using novel GO/bentonite/MgFeAl-LTH nanocomposite

The contamination of water with organic pollutants such as dyes and phenols is a serious environmental problem, requiring effective treatment methods. In the present study, a novel nanocomposite was synthesized by intercalating graphene oxide and bentonite clay into MgFeAl-layered triple hydroxide (GO/BENT/LTH), which was characterized using different techniques. The adsorption efficacy of the GO/BENT/LTH nanocomposite was assessed via the removal of two harmful organic water pollutants, namely methyl orange (MO) and 2-nitrophenol (2NP). The obtained results revealed that the maximum adsorption capacities (qmax) of MO and 2NP reached 3106.3 and 2063.5 mg/g, respectively, demonstrating the excellent adsorption performance of the nanocomposite. Furthermore, this study examined the effects of contact time, initial MO and 2NP concentrations, pH, and temperature of the wastewater samples on the adsorptive removal of MO and 2NP by the GO/BENT/LTH nanocomposite. The pH, zeta potential, and FTIR investigations suggested the presence of more than one adsorption mechanism. Thermodynamic investigations elucidated the exothermic nature of the adsorption of MO and 2NP onto the GO/BENT/LTH nanocomposite, with MO adsorption being more sensitive to temperature change. Additionally, regeneration studies revealed a marginal loss in the MO and 2NP removal with the repetitive use of the GO/BENT/LTH nanocomposite, demonstrating its reusability. Overall, the findings of this study reveal the promise of the GO/BENT/LTH nanocomposite for effective water decontamination.