Vector Production a Bottleneck for Gene Therapy Sector
More effective purification materials would make viral vector production more efficient, say researchers working on an affinity adsorbent-based method they claim can differentiate between full and empty capsids more effectively than current methods. The post Vector Production a Bottleneck for Gene Therapy Sector appeared first on GEN - Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News .
Gene therapy's reliance on viral vectors has become a critical bottleneck, according to researchers, who emphasize the urgent need for improved downstream purification materials. Stefano Menegatti, a professor at North Carolina State University, highlights that current purification technologies fail to distinguish between full and empty AAV capsids, leading to increased processing costs and delayed access to treatments.
Menegatti and colleague Michael Daniele received a grant to develop AvXcel affinity adsorbents, which accelerate purification and selectively enrich full capsids. Their research shows a significant improvement in full capsid enrichment, from 20-30% to 34-48%. Additionally, the adsorbents can endure harsh cleaning processes, a crucial factor for industry needs.
The grant also funds the development of a machine learning platform, Beacon, which optimizes vaccine purification by reducing experimental trials by 30-50%. Beacon utilizes the VVIRAL database and provides interpretable outputs, making advanced AI accessible to biomanufacturing professionals.
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