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Improving tangential flow filtration for mRNA medicines purification
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  • Ehsan Nourafkan,
  • Charlotte Kenyon,
  • Adithya Nair,
  • Kate Loveday A,
  • Emma Welbourne N,
  • Min Tao,
  • Mahdi Ahmed,
  • Joseph Middleton,
  • Mark Dickman,
  • Solomon Brown,
  • Mabrouka Maamra,
  • Joan Cordiner,
  • Zoltán Kis
Ehsan Nourafkan
The University of Sheffield Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
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Charlotte Kenyon
The University of Sheffield Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
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Adithya Nair
The University of Sheffield Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
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Kate Loveday A
The University of Sheffield Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
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Emma Welbourne N
The University of Sheffield Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
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Min Tao
The University of Sheffield Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
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Mahdi Ahmed
The University of Sheffield Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
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Joseph Middleton
The University of Sheffield Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
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Mark Dickman
The University of Sheffield Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
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Solomon Brown
The University of Sheffield Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
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Mabrouka Maamra
The University of Sheffield Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
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Joan Cordiner
The University of Sheffield Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
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Zoltán Kis
The University of Sheffield Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering

Corresponding Author:z.kis@sheffield.ac.uk

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Abstract

After the COVID-19 pandemic, several companies and organisations are actively developing, scaling up and optimising mRNA manufacturing processes to produce their vaccines and therapeutics. Herein, we evaluated tangential flow filtration (TFF) for high-recovery, and high-purity separation of mRNA from unreacted NTPs in the IVT reaction mixture. For the first time, the membrane fouling behaviour caused by mRNA and separation of nucleoside triphosphates (NTPs) was mathematically modelled. The mRNA membrane fouling model is necessary for optimising mRNA separation processes, designing a suitable strategy for membrane clean-up, estimating the end of production life and reducing the process cost. Recovery greater than 70% mRNA without degradation was obtained by implementing a capacity load of ~19 g/m2, <2.5 psi transmembrane pressure (TMP) and feed flux of 300 LMH. This approach enables the purification of multiple RNA drug substance sequences for the prevention and treatment of a wide range of diseases.
31 Jul 2024Submitted to Biotechnology Journal
01 Aug 2024Submission Checks Completed
01 Aug 2024Assigned to Editor
01 Aug 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
03 Aug 2024Reviewer(s) Assigned
28 Aug 2024Editorial Decision: Revise Major
02 Oct 20241st Revision Received
03 Oct 2024Submission Checks Completed
03 Oct 2024Assigned to Editor
03 Oct 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
03 Oct 2024Reviewer(s) Assigned
21 Oct 2024Editorial Decision: Accept