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Characterisation and analysis of mRNA critical quality attributes using liquid chromatography based methods.
Alexandra L J Webb1, Emma N Welbourne1, Caroline A Evans1
1School of Chemical, Materials and Biological Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S1 3JD, UK.
Journal of Chromatography. A
|February 13, 2025
Summary
Messenger RNA (mRNA) analysis is crucial for developing new therapies beyond vaccines. This review details high-performance liquid chromatography methods for characterizing mRNA critical quality attributes.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- Messenger RNA (mRNA) technology enables rapid vaccine development and manufacturing.
- mRNA therapeutics show promise for treating various diseases, including cancer and autoimmune disorders.
- Effective analytical methods are essential for mRNA characterization, quality control, and stability testing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current analytical methods for mRNA characterization.
- To focus on high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with UV and mass spectrometry.
- To highlight recent advancements in analyzing critical quality attributes (CQAs) of mRNA.
Main Methods:
- High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with UV detection.
- High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with mass spectrometry (MS).
- Review of recent literature on analytical techniques for mRNA.
Main Results:
- HPLC-UV and HPLC-MS are key techniques for mRNA analysis.
- Methods are described for assessing mRNA identity, integrity, 5' capping efficiency, and poly(A) tail length.
- Challenges in mRNA analysis due to its polar nature and secondary structures are addressed.
Conclusions:
- Robust analytical methods are vital for the successful development of mRNA therapeutics.
- Liquid chromatography-based techniques offer comprehensive solutions for mRNA characterization.
- Further advancements in analytical methods will support the expanding applications of mRNA technology.

