Purifying Enveloped Viruses Using Polyol-Stabilized Buffers

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for purifying lentiviral vectors pseudotyped with glycoproteins like GaLV or MV are limited by the instability and fragility of membrane glycoproteins, leading to low yields and inefficiencies in purification processes.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a polyol, such as sucrose, into the buffers used during ultrafiltration/diafiltration and anion exchange chromatography steps significantly enhances the purification yield by stabilizing the vectors and improving their recovery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional purification methods are used for enveloped viruses pseudotyped with GaLV or MV glycoproteins, then the purification process can be completed, but the yield is low due to instability and fragility of the membrane glycoproteins

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepurification yieldVSAvoidstability of membrane glycoproteins
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the pH of buffers used during purification steps. Specifically, using buffers at pH 5.5-6.5 during ultrafiltration/diafiltration and anion exchange chromatography improves glycoprotein stability and increases purification yield compared to conventional neutral pH buffers

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces polyols (such as sucrose, sorbitol, or mannitol) as intermediary substances in the purification buffers. These polyols act as protective agents that stabilize the membrane glycoproteins during purification, preventing their degradation and improving recovery yield

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If VSV-G pseudotyped vectors are purified using conventional methods, then satisfactory purification protocols are available, but vectors pseudotyped with other envelope proteins like GaLV or MV cannot be effectively purified

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplicability to different envelope proteinsVSAvoidavailability of purification protocol
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent develops a universal purification protocol that works for multiple types of enveloped viruses pseudotyped with different glycoproteins (VSV-G, GaLV, MV, etc.). By using pH-adjusted buffers containing polyols, the same basic protocol can be applied across different vector types, making the method universally applicable rather than specific to single virus types

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The addition of polyols like sucrose in the buffers increases the purification yield of lentiviral vectors, particularly those pseudotyped with GaLV glycoproteins, leading to more stable and effective production processes.

Implementation Method 1

the addition of a polyol to one or more of the buffers used during one or more steps of a process for purifying an enveloped virus made it possible to obtain a substantial increase in the purification yield

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectStabilization by polyol:

Implementation Method 2

anion exchange chromatography

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAnion exchange chromatography: Ion Exchange

Implementation Method 3

ultrafiltration/diafiltration step

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectUltrafiltration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP3083970B2Method for purifying enveloped viruses or viral vectors
Publication Date: 2024.03.13 GENETHON
  • EP3083970B2 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3083970B2 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3083970B2 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for purifying enveloped viruses. The method of the invention is of use for the large-scale recovery of enveloped viruses under conditions which adhere to good manufacturing practice and which make it possible to obtain clinical-grade viruses.