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Alternative In Vitro Methods for the Determination of Viral Capsid Structural Integrity
Published on: November 16, 2017
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Thermostabilization of viruses via complex coacervation
Xue Mi1, Whitney C Blocher McTigue, Pratik U Joshi
1Department of Chemical Engineering, Michigan Technological University, USA. heldt@mtu.edu.
Biomaterials Science
|October 20, 2020
Summary
Complex coacervates can stabilize viruses, potentially eliminating the need for cold storage in vaccine transport and increasing global vaccine access. This method enhances viral stability and aids in purification for both enveloped and non-enveloped viruses.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology and Biomedical Engineering
- Materials Science
- Virology
Background:
- Millions of lives could be saved annually with widespread vaccine coverage.
- Current viral vaccines require strict cold chain management (2-8 °C) for efficacy.
- Failure to maintain refrigeration temperatures leads to vaccine potency loss, termed the cold storage problem.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the use of polymer-rich complex coacervates for viral stabilization.
- To develop a method for encapsulating virus particles within coacervates.
- To determine if coacervate formulations can reduce or eliminate the need for cold storage of vaccines.
Main Methods:
- Developed a coacervation method utilizing electrostatic interactions between viruses and polypeptides.
- Encapsulated two model viruses: non-enveloped porcine parvovirus (PPV) and enveloped bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV).
- Used poly(lysine) and poly(glutamate) to form coacervates and identified optimal conditions for virus encapsulation.
Main Results:
- Achieved a ~10^3-10^4-fold concentration of virus into the coacervate phase.
- Identified optimal coacervate composition based on polypeptide ratios and virus isoelectric points.
- Demonstrated significantly enhanced stability of non-enveloped PPV at 60 °C for one week.
Conclusions:
- Coacervation shows potential for purifying and formulating both enveloped and non-enveloped viruses.
- Coacervate-based formulations may reduce the reliance on cold storage for vaccine transport and distribution.
- This approach could improve access to life-saving vaccines, particularly those based on non-enveloped viruses.
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