Membrane technology for the purification of RNA and DNA therapeutics

• Published in: Trends in biotechnology (Regular ed.) 2024-06, Vol.42 (6), p.714-727
• Main Authors: Javidanbardan, Amin, Messerian, Kevork Oliver, Zydney, Andrew L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acids; Biopharmaceuticals; Bioprocessing; Commercialization; Coronaviruses; COVID-19 vaccines; Disease transmission; DNA; Drug development; Gene therapy; Genetic disorders; membrane; Membranes; MicroRNAs; mRNA; Nucleic acids; Plasmids; Polymers; Proteins; Purification; ultrafiltration
• ISSN: 0167-7799; 1879-3096; 1879-3096
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2023.11.016

Successful development of nucleic acid therapeutics requires effective manufacturing strategies tailored to the production and purification of RNA and DNA.Membrane processes can be used for initial clarification, removal of smaller host cell proteins and transcription factors, concentration and buffer exchange, and sterile filtration.Transmission of DNA and RNA in ultrafiltration is governed by both the effective size and elongational flexibility of the nucleic acids.Sterile filtration of DNA/RNA therapeutics can present unique challenges due to their large size and shear sensitivity. Nucleic acid therapeutics have the potential to revolutionize the biopharmaceutical industry, providing highly effective vaccines and novel treatments for cancers and genetic disorders. The successful commercialization of these therapeutics will require development of manufacturing strategies specifically tailored to the purification of nucleic acids. Membrane technologies already play a critical role in the downstream processing of nucleic acid therapeutics, ranging from clarification to concentration to selective purification. This review provides an overview of how membrane systems are currently used for nucleic acid purification, while highlighting areas of future need and opportunity, including adoption of membranes in continuous bioprocessing. Nucleic acid therapeutics have the potential to revolutionize the biopharmaceutical industry, providing highly effective vaccines and novel treatments for cancers and genetic disorders. The successful commercialization of these therapeutics will require development of manufacturing strategies specifically tailored to the purification of nucleic acids. Membrane technologies already play a critical role in the downstream processing of nucleic acid therapeutics, ranging from clarification to concentration to selective purification. This review provides an overview of how membrane systems are currently used for nucleic acid purification, while highlighting areas of future need and opportunity, including adoption of membranes in continuous bioprocessing.