Grant: Idea to Innovation

My research group recently developed Switchable Aptamers (SwAps), single-stranded DNA oligonucleotides, of controlled affinity and selectivity toward oncolytic viruses that can allow the release of the intact virus upon treatment with a simple universal eluting agent. This new technology has the potential to revolutionize affinity-based purification and separation. Using this method, we were able to obtain an ultrapure vesicular stomatitis virus, VSV, which is particularly effective against metastatic cancers that are difficult to treat via conventional therapy. There is no other method for VSV purification that approaches the efficiency and simplicity of our SwAp-based purification technique. Early laboratory studies have conclusively shown that the developed SwAps can efficiently capture VSV in the presence of Ca and Mg ions and also release the captured virus using an eluting solution with chelating agents such as EDTA and EGTA. We are now at a stage where the SwAps technology is ready to move to the reduction-to-practice stage. The overall goals for Phase 1 of this I2I proposal are to develop our SwAp-based purification technique into a robust and easily manufactured platform technology by achieving the following steps: 1) Enhancement of the target biomolecule capture and recovery; 2) Improvement of the SwAps stability during frequent purification cycles; 3) Investigation of economic and efficient chromatographic matrices; 4) Optimization of the purification process; 5) Third party evaluation and validation. Achievement of these goals will result in the development of a robust technology that will meet the key needs of customers involved in purification of biomolecules of pharmaceutical and medicinal significance and will form the basis for both a start-up company and a product line that can be deployed in short period.