Enhanced sulfate pseudo-affinity chromatography using monolith-like particle architecture for purifying SARS-CoV-2

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Virology
• Chromatography

Background:

• Conventional virus purification resins have limitations due to small pore sizes, hindering efficient virus binding and capacity.
• Developing advanced materials is crucial for effective downstream processing in vaccine production.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of a novel cellulose monolith-like particle (MLP) resin, MLP1000 DexS, for purifying severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).
• To compare the performance of MLP1000 DexS with commercial resins under high-loading conditions for virus purification.

Main Methods:

• Bind-elute mode chromatography was employed using a 0.29 mL column of MLP1000 DexS.
• Purification of SARS-CoV-2 from Vero cells was assessed under two load volumes: 4.5 mL and 21 mL.
• Virus elution recovery and double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) removal capacity were quantified and compared to commercial resins.

Main Results:

• MLP1000 DexS demonstrated superior performance under high-loading conditions, achieving a 59% virus elution recovery.
• This recovery rate significantly outperformed commercial resins (Cellufine Sulfate, Capto DeVirS) which yielded 11-17% recovery.
• The dsDNA removal capacity of MLP1000 DexS was 3.0-5.3 times higher than that of the other evaluated resins.

Conclusions:

• MLP1000 DexS is a highly effective purification material for SARS-CoV-2, offering enhanced binding capacity and efficiency.
• Its superior performance, particularly under high-load conditions, makes it suitable for downstream processing in coronavirus vaccine production.
• This novel resin facilitates improved purification yields and purity for vaccine manufacturing.