Characterization of Non-Infectious Virus-Like Particle Surrogates for Viral Clearance Applications

Sarah Johnson, Kurt A. Brorson, Douglas D. Frey, Arun K. Dhar, David A. Cetlin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

19 Scopus citations

Abstract

Viral clearance is a critical aspect of biopharmaceutical manufacturing process validation. To determine the viral clearance efficacy of downstream chromatography and filtration steps, live viral “spiking” studies are conducted with model mammalian viruses such as minute virus of mice (MVM). However, due to biosafety considerations, spiking studies are costly and typically conducted in specialized facilities. In this work, we introduce the concept of utilizing a non-infectious MVM virus-like particle (MVM-VLP) as an economical surrogate for live MVM during process development and characterization. Through transmission electron microscopy, size exclusion chromatography with multi-angle light scattering, chromatofocusing, and a novel solute surface hydrophobicity assay, we examined and compared the size, surface charge, and hydrophobic properties of MVM and MVM-VLP. The results revealed that MVM and MVM-VLP exhibited nearly identical physicochemical properties, indicating the potential utility of MVM-VLP as an accurate and economical surrogate to live MVM during chromatography and filtration process development and characterization studies.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)318-331
Number of pages14
JournalApplied Biochemistry and Biotechnology
Volume183
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1 2017
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Bioprocess development
  • Chromatofocusing
  • Chromatography
  • Minute virus of mice
  • Quality by Design
  • Viral clearance
  • Virus filtration
  • Virus-like particle

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biotechnology
  • Bioengineering
  • Biochemistry
  • Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology
  • Molecular Biology

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