Title: Method for virus capture

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a method for virus capture or separation. More closely, the invention relates to a method for direct influenza and adenovirus capture using magnetic beads.

Background

There is an increasing demand for biopharmaceuticals such as viral vectors for gene therapy and monoclonal antibodies for immunotherapy. This arise from the discoveries of their capabilities in treatment of diseases such as cancer.

The traditional manufacturing process consists of an upstream, a midstream and a downstream part. Upstream is referring to cell expansion carrying target biomolecule until final harvesting, while downstream is processing the target molecule to acceptable purity and quality. Midstream is the interface between up- and downstream, and is aiming to remove bulk impurities from the harvesting and prepare the sample for column chromatography purification.

The adenovirus purification process consists of a capture step and polishing steps. The capture step is aiming to isolate the target molecule with high capacity, while polishing is aiming to remove residual impurities and achieve final high-level purity. The polishing step is flow through chromatography for both virus processes, and is aiming to capture the residual impurities, while the target virus is passing through the column without binding. The residual impurities in virus purification are mainly related to host cell proteins (HCP) and cell DNA remaining from upstream cell culture.

It is crucial that the solution is free from solid particles in conventional column chromatography due to the likelihood of blocking the column. This is the main objective for the midstream part of a manufacturing process. Solid impurities will clog the column and must thus be removed, for instance via filtration. However, filtration is a time-consuming and expensive process. Furthermore, influenza and adenovirus tend to aggregate and are unable to pass the filter pores, which causes extensive loss in virus yield.

Thus, there exists a need of capturing target molecules directly from a crude cell lysate suspension with expressed viruses with high selectivity, capacity and strong affinity, and successful enough to replace the traditional process using mid-stream filtration and column chromatography.

Summary of the invention

The present invention provides a rapid and efficient method for virus purification comprising the following steps: a) Addition of magnetic beads to a crude cell lysate suspension comprising target virus; b) Homogenization and incubation of said suspension to allow binding of said target virus to ligands on said magnetic beads; c) Capture of said magnetic beads; d) Removal of supernatant from said magnetic beads; e) Washing and repetition of steps c)-d); and f) Addition of elution buffer, and collection ofeluate containing target virus. Preferably the magnetic beads are agarose beads with embedded 1-5 miti magnetite particles.

Preferably the magnetic beads have an average diameter of up to 120 pm, preferably up to 100 pm, such as 0-40 pm or 40-100 pm, or such as 0-37 pm or 37-100 pm. The magnetic beads comprise 2- 6% agarose, preferably 3-5% agarose, most preferably 4% agarose.

In a preferred embodiment the magnetic beads comprise 4 % agarose and have an average diameter of 0 - 37 pm.

The ligands are quaternary trimethylamine (Q) and/or sulfate (S), preferably at least the sulfate ligand is provided with a surface extender from the bead surface, such as a dextran extender.

When the target virus is adenovirus the ligands are Q-ligands and when the target virus is influenza virus the ligands are S-ligands.

The method of the invention presents several advantages compared to prior methods in that the binding of target virus to ligands may be performed directly from crude cell lysate and with binding of up to 90% of the target virus within a very short period of 30 minutes, such as within 15 minutes, or 5 minutes, or 1 minute.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig 1 is a bar chart showing maximum capacities and dissociation constants of adenovirus binding for DxQ prototypes of the invention.

Fig 2 is a graph showing adenovirus capture over time with DxQ prototypes of the invention.

Fig 3 is a graph showing influenza binding capacities for DxS prototypes of the invention.

Detailed description of the invention

The invention will now be described more closely in association with the drawings and some non limiting Examples.

Novel ferrimagnetic chromatography resins for batch adsorption of adenovirus and influenza virus are provided that will increase the capacity and dissociation constant of the target molecule.

The invention relates to functionalization of MagSepharose prototypes (agarose beads with magnetite particles as described below) and methods of use for direct capture of adenovirus and influenza virus in batch adsorption mode. The beads are functionalized with a quaternary trimethylamine (Q) for adenovirus binding by anion-excxhange, and dextran sulfate (DxS) for influenza virus binding by affinity capture.

The viruses used in the invention are H1N1 Influenza-A Virus Solomon lsland/03/06 and Adenovirus type 5 Green Florescence Tagged Protein (AdV 5-GFP). When stating “Adenovirus” and “Influenza virus” in the below description, they refer to these specific viruses

Instead of mid-stream filtration the target molecule is captured directly from the cell lysate using batch adsorption, using magnetic beads with a specific affinity binding towards the target virus. The magnetic beads are highly selective and have high capacity.

The magnetic beads are captured by a magnet while carrying the target molecule. By separating the beads from the solution, soluble impurities are removed. The target molecule is eluted with a change of buffer composition (pH, salt) and collected.

The ferrimagnet magnetite (Fe ₃ 0 ₄ ) is used in this invention. Magnetite has a spontaneous magnetization (as for all ferrimagnets), but reducing particle size of magnetite will result in “paramagnetic characteristics”, i.e. a small magnetic memory in the magnetite structure, but a good response to a magnetic field. The magnetite particles incorporated in the prototypes are 1 - 5 pm which leads to negligible magnetic memory and field. These properties will prevent the magnetic beads to permanently aggregate and affecting each other negatively in a batch adsorption purpose, but still have a good response to a magnetic field.

The magnetite particles are incorporated or embedded in agarose beads during the emulsification resulting in agarose beads with a magnetite core.

Both adenovirus and influenza virus are macromolecules (70 - 120 nm), and the beads must have pores large enough to allow diffusion to utilize the internal volume of the resin. However, the available material for modification and interaction is low in very porous material, which can lead to lower binding capacities. In the present invention this is solved using surface extenders, preferably dextran, a long chain polysaccharide. Dextran increases the available ligand coupling points and creates a three-dimensional structure for the target molecule to bind and may be coupled onto magnetite bead.

A trimethylamine (Q) ligand was selected for adenovirus binding. Dextran was first coupled onto the beads to increase the surface area for ligand coupling (and thus virus binding sites), and later functionalized with Q. This complex is abbreviated DxQ. The dextran itself does not have any binding properties toward adenovirus.

However, the dextran polymer has an active role for influenza virus binding, allowing multiple point of interaction with influenza virus. So, dextran sulfate can be viewed as a large ligand. The dextran sulfate complex is abbreviated DxS. Below the structure of the ligands DxQ (a), and DxS (b) are shown. The Q and S ligands are randomly coupled onto the dextran chain. a) b)

A preferred method of binding of virus molecules using magnetite beads is divided into following steps:

1) Add MagSepharose to the sample containing target molecule.

2) Homogenization and incubation.

3) Capture of MagSepharose by magnetic rack.

4) Removal of supernatant.

5) Addition of washing buffer, followed by step 2 - 4.

6) Optionally renew step 5 up to about five times.

7) Addition of elution buffer followed by step 2 and 3.

8) Collect the eluate containing target molecule. PROTOTYPES

About lOOg of magnetite was encapsulated in 1.4 L of sedimented 4% and 2% agarose beads, for formation of the 2% and 4% MagSepharose resin (agarose resins with embedded 1-5 pm magnetite particles) used as starting material for production of the prototypes. The bead size is indicated after each protype of DxQ and DxS functionalized prototypes as described below.

For the porosity of 4% MagSepharose the Kd for a dextran of 110 KDa is 0.64

For the porosity of 2 % MagSepharose the kD for a dextran of 110 Kda is about 0.8.

1. DxO functionalized MagSepharose

The DxQ functionalization was conducted on four different MagSepharose prototype resins:

1) 4 % MagSepharose 0 - 37 pm,

2) 4 % MagSepharose 37 - 100 pm,

3) 2 % MagSepharose 0 - 37 pm, and

4) 2 % MagSepharose 37 - 100 pm.

The following reactions were used to produce DxQ prototypes: epoxyactivation of gel and dextran coupling.

The amount of dextran coupled on the four base matrixes was determined by measuring the increase in dry weight, i.e. the weight of the dried resin before and after introduction of dextran. The values are summarized in Table 1. As can be seen, values between 12 - 22 mg/mL were obtained.

Table 1

The dextran coupled resins were functionalized with glycidyltrimethylammonium chloride (GMAC). The hydroxyl groups on the dextran chains are reacting via a nucleophilic substitution with the epoxy function of the GMAC under basic conditions. The GMAC contains the desirable Q ligand, and the resin was functionalized as an anion-exchanger for adenovirus purification. See reaction schemes below.

MagSepharose DxQ

The ionic capacities obtained are shown in Table 2. The 2 % agarose based prototypes show a lower ligand density (53 and 92 pmol/mL gel) than the 4 % agarose based prototypes (175 and 160 pmol/mL gel). This is probably due to lower agarose amount (i.e. less hydroxyl groups for attachment available) for the 2 % prototypes. However, both prototypes are suitable to be candidates for anion- exchange for adenovirus application.

Presented in Table 2 is also ion capacities based on “gram dry weight resin”. This was due to the difficulties of obtaining exactly l mL resin. However, no values could be obtained for the 2 % prototypes because of limited available resin.

Table 2

2. DxS functionalized MagSepharose beads

The DxS functionalization was conducted on three different agarose resins with embedded magnetite particles:

1) 4 % MagSepharose 0 - 37 pm,

2) 4 % MagSepharose 37 - 100 pm, and

3) 2 % MagSepharose 0 - 100 pm.

To obtain two different particle size fractions of the 2 % MagSepharose, the resin was sieved into two fractions: 2 % MagSepharose DxS 0 - 37 pm and 2 % MagSepharose DxS 37 - 100 pm before virus application test. Allylation

Introduction of an allyl group on the base matrix was conducted by a nucleophilic substitution with the epoxy function of AGE in a basic environment.

The allyl amount is presented in Table 3, and shows higher allyl values for the 4 % prototypes than the 2 % as a probable result of higher agarose amount. The allyl amount in the unit “pmol per gram dry weight resin” is also presented in Table 3, with absence of the value for the 4 % MagSepharose 37 pm prototype due to machine error.

Table 3

Bromination

The allyl group undergoes an allylic bromination by a bromine radical. The bromine radical reacts with the allylic hydrogen (i.e. the hydrogen at a carbon attached to a carbon-carbon double bond) in a one electron process, leaving one electron on the allylic carbon and forming an allylic radical with an equivalent resonance structure. The hydrogen is consequently substituted by a bromine at the allylic carbon. This intermediate is further reacting with water to generate an epoxide.

Dextran Sulfate Coupling

The dextran sulfate chain was introduced to the epoxide groups of the resin by a nucleophilic attack in a basic environment as described above for the DxQ prototypes.

The dextran sulfate amount immobilized is presented in Table 4. Due to volumetric sample preparation difficulties for the 2 % prototype, only the ionic capacity in “pmol per gram dry weight resin” could be obtained.

Table 4 Eight prototypes were successfully prepared, four with DxQ and four with DxS. These prototypes are presented in Table 5.

Table5

Adenovirus binding with DxO Prototypes

The adenovirus concentration of the start feed was determined to 6.40 x 10 ¹¹ virus particles per mL (VP/mL) using Quantitative Polymerase Chain reaction (qPCR). This feed was diluted ten times.

As a start, an adenovirus standard curve was set-up using different injection volumes of the start material onto anion exchange high performance liquid chromatography (AEX-HPLC) using analytical method. This method was used for a quick adenovirus titer determination in all samples.

The adenovirus binding was conducted as the process outlined below:

The experimental capacities (Q*) and adenovirus supernatant concentration after incubation (c*) for a specific volume of beads were determined. The experimental dissociation constant (K _d ) and maximum capacity (Q _max ) can be estimated for each prototype using the Langmuir isotherm in the below equation.

The K _d and Q _max for each prototype are shown in Figure 1 as a bar diagram. Note that a reference prototype labeled “Q MagSepharose 4FF” also was analyzed. It is a Q functionalized 4 % MagSepharose with particle size distribution of 37 - 100 pm without dextran.

Fig 1 shows that higher agarose content in the beads will result in higher capacity, and smaller beads will result in lower dissociation constants. Consequently, the 4 % MagSepharose DxQ 0 - 37 pm prototype has the combination of highest capacity and lowest dissociation constant (Q _max of 1.36 x 10 ¹³ VP per mL beads, and a K _d of 6.70 x 10 ^s VP per mL). Furthermore, the use of dextran does result in a higher capacity regardless of particle size or percentage agarose, but does not clearly affect the dissociation constant. All new DxQ prototypes shows a high capacity for adenovirus purification. The incubation time in the experiment was one hour for adenovirus binding. The Q _max for the 4 % MagSepharose DxQ 0 - 37 pm prototype was 1.36 x 10 ¹³ VP per mL beads, which means that only 2.98 pL beads would be needed to capture all the virus in a 1 mL feed with concentration of 4.05 x 10 ¹⁰ VP per mL (as for the experiment) if the dissociation constant is neglected.

A calculation of the experimental yield for the 4 % MagSepharose DxQ 0 - 37 pm prototype compared to the 4 % MagSepharose DxQ 37 - 100 pm prototype is presented in Table 6. The prototypes have roughly the same Q _max , but the higher dissociation constant for the 37 - 100 pm prototype reduces the yield from 99.3 % to 92.5 %. Table 1: Overview of the impact of yield for different dissociation constant but same capacities

A binding kinetic study was performed for testing how fast the adenovirus was captured by the 4 % MagSepharose DxQ 0 - 37 pm prototype. The unbound virus content was determined by taking supernatant samples at different times during incubation, followed by a HPLC analysis. Samples were taken after incubation times of: t = [1 min, 5 min, 15 min, 30 min]. The loading of beads was optimized to obtain a 100 % yield (15 pL beads for 1 mL adenovirus feed with 4.05 x 10 ¹⁰ VP/mL). See Fig 2 for percent virus uptake after time t.

Fig 2 shows that all adenovirus was captured after thirty minutes incubation, and 86.7 % is already captured after one minute. This indicates that most of the adenovirus binding occurs under the first minute.

Influenza Virus binding by DxS Prototypes

DxS MagSepharose prototypes were tested for ability to capture the influenza virus directly from the cell lysate without competition from other host cell fragments. The influenza virus application test was conducted as outlined below.

The influenza amount was determined by the measurement of the influenza surface protein hemagglutinin (HA) in the samples. The experimental capacities (Q*) and the HA supernatant concentrations after incubation (c*) for a specific volume of beads are shown in Fig 3.

Fig 3 shows that the prototypes with smaller bead sizes (< 37 pm) showed higher binding capacities than the corresponding 37 - 100 pm. Comparing the < 37 pm prototypes, the 4 % has lower dissociation constant than the 2 % (the 4 % prototype shifted more to the left, i.e. less HA in supernatant after incubation). The 4 % MagSepharose DxS 0 - 37 pm was the best candidate for influenza virus, showing highest binding capacity and lowest dissociation constant.

The main advantage of using functionalized magnetite resins was clearly shown for influenza virus, allowing to omit the time consuming midstream filtration step and retaining a comparable overall virus yield.

EXPERIMENTAL PART

EXPERIMENT 1: Preparation of DxQ Prototype

Epoxy activation Drained MagSepharose (unfunctionalized agarose beads with embedded 1-5 pm magnetite particles) was washed with DW 10 x 1 GV in a SF P3. The resin was transferred to a 250 mL 3N-RBF flask with DW, and placed into a 27 °C water bath, and fitted with an overhead stirrer. Stirring applied at -300 rpm until a homogenous slurry was obtained. NaOH pellets were added to the slurry, and stirring applied for fifteen more minutes. ECH was added, and the reaction left for two hours with stirring. The resin was washed with DW in SF P3 to neutral pH (measured by pH stick) and then vacuum drained and the weight recorded.

Dextran coupling

DxT 40 and DW were added to a 250 mL 3N-RBF flask, and overhead stirred for at least four hours at low rpm (~ 80 rpm). Epoxy activated resin was added directly to the dissolved dextran in the 3N-RBF. The flask was placed in a 40 °C water bath under overhead stirring at low rate (-120 rpm). A reflux condenser was used for minimizing evaporation. DW was added to make the slurry less viscous.

Nitrogen gas was bubbled in the solution to drive away oxygen for twenty minutes. 50 % NaOH and sodium borohydride (NaBH ₄ ) were added and the reaction was left for 18 hours, after which DW and 60 % acetic acid (HAc) were added to stop the reaction. The resin was washed to neutral pH on a SF

P3.

GMAC Coupling

Dextran coupled resin was washed with 2 M NaOH 3 x 1 GV in SF P3, drained and weight recorded. The resin was transferred to a 250 mL 3N-RBF, to which GMAC was added. Coupling was performed for 18 h at room temperature with overhead stirring at -300 rpm.

The resin was washed with DW in SF P3 until neutral pH (measured using pH strip).)

Resin was drained and stored in the fridge in a 20 % EtOH at 65 % slurry concentration. DxQ 4 % MagSepharose Particle Size 0 - 37 pm

Step 1 - Eooxu Activation

112.5 g of 4 % MagSepharose 0 - 37 pm and 33.6 mL DW was treated with 10.9 g NaOH and 21.3 mL ECH. Giving 109.9 g of resin.

Dry weight measurements were performed in triplicates giving an average of 98 mg per mL resin.

Step 2 - Dextran Coupling

26 mL DW and 41 g DxT 40 for dextran solving. 90 g epoxy activated resin added with 3 mL DW, followed by 4.9 mL 50 % NaOH and 0.19 g NaBH ₄ .

Reaction stopped by adding 40 mL DW and 15 mL 60 % HAc.

Dry weight measurements were performed in triplicates giving an average of 120 mg per mL resin. Step 3 - GMAC Coupling:

Drained resin weight to 89.5 g, and 108 mL GMAC added. After reaction: washed and drained resin weight to 77.8 g, whereof 66.2 g resin stored.

Volumetric ion capacity titrations were performed in triplicates giving an average of 175 pmol per mL resin. Ion capacity titrations on weight were performed in duplicates with an average of 803 pmol per gram dry weight resin.

DxQ 4 % MagSepharose Particle Size 37- 100 pm

Step 1 - Epoxu Activation

112.7 g of 4 % MagSepharose 37 - 100 pm and 33.6 mL DW was treated with 10.9 g NaOH and 21.3 mL ECH. Giving 108.9 g of resin.

Dry weight measurements were performed in duplicates giving an average of 117 mg per mL resin. Step 2 - Dextran Coupling

22 mL DW and 38.9 g DxT 40 for dextran solving. 90 g epoxy activated resin added with 3 mL DW, followed by 4.9 mL 50 % NaOH and 0.194 g NaBH ₄ .

Reaction stopped by adding 40 mL DW and 15 mL 60 % HAc.

Dry weight measurements were performed in duplicates giving an average of 129 mg per mL resin. Step 3 - GMAC Coupling:

Drained resin weight to 85.41 g, and 103 mL GMAC added. After reaction: washed and drained resin weight to 73.7 g, whereof 59.6 g resin stored.

Volumetric ion capacity titrations were performed in duplicates giving an average of 160 pmol per mL resin. Ion capacity titrations on weight were performed in duplicates with an average of 977 pmol per gram dry weight resin.

DxQ 2 % MagSepharose Particle Size 0 - 37 pm

Step 1 - EPOXU Activation

22 g of 2 % MagSepharose 0 - 37 pm and 6.6 mL DW was treated with 2.1 g NaOH and 4.2 mL ECH. Giving 21 g of resin.

Dry weight measurements were not performed because of limited available resin.

Step 2 - Dextran Coupling

6 mL DW and 10.8 g DxT 40 for dextran solving. 15 g epoxy activated resin added with 1 mL DW, followed by 0.80 mL 50 % NaOH and 0.030 g NaBH ₄ . Note: weight Dextran was for 25 g resin, but only 15 g was used.

Reaction stopped by adding 20 mL DW and 10 mL 60 % HAc.

Dry weight measurements were not performed because of limited available resin.

Step 3 - GMAC Coupling:

Drained resin weight to 10.2 g, and 12.2 mL GMAC added. After reaction: washed and drained resin weight to 10.6 g, whereof 7.5 g resin stored.

Volumetric ion capacity titration conducted in duplicates with average of 53 pmol per mL resin. No ion capacity titration on weight conducted due to limited available resin.

DxQ 2 % MagSepharose Particle Size 37- 100 pm

Step 1 - EDOXU Activation

57.7 g 2 % MagSepharose 37 - 100 pm and 17.3 mL DW was treated with 5.7 g NaOH and 11 mL ECH. Giving 51.0 g of resin.

Dry weight measurements were performed in triplicates giving an average of 94 mg per mL resin. Step 2 - Dextran Coupling

110 mL DW and 26.1 g DxT 40 for dextran solving. 48 g epoxy activated resin added with 1 mL DW, followed by 2.6 mL 50 % NaOH and 0.10 g NaBH ₄ . Note: weight Dextran was for 60 g resin, but 48 g was used.

Reaction stopped by adding 40 mL DW and 13 mL 60 % HAc.

Dry weight measurements were performed in duplicates giving an average of 108 mg per mL resin. Step 3 - GMAC Coupling:

Drained resin weight to 50.5 g, and 61 mL GMAC added. After reaction: washed and drained resin weight to 47.1 g, whereof 44.0 g resin stored.

Volumetric ion capacity titrations were performed in duplicates giving an average of 92 pmol per mL resin. No ion capacity titration on weight conducted due to limited available resin.

EXPERIMENT 2: Preparation of DxS Prototype

Allylation

Drained MagSepharose (unfunctionalized agarose beads with embedded 1-5 pm magnetite particles) was washed with DW 10 x 1 GV in a SF P3, and drained weight recorded. The resin was transferred to a 250 mL 3N-RBF with an equal amount of 50 % NaOH. Stirring occurred (-150 rpm) in 50 °C water bath for thirty minutes. A reflux condenser was used for minimizing evaporation. AGE was then added, and the reaction left under stirring (-300 rpm) for 18 h.

The resin was washed with DW 10 x 1 GV in SF P3, vacuum drained and the weight measured. Bromination

The activated allyl resin was transferred to a 250 mL 3N-RBF along with DW and sodium acetate trihydrate (C ₂ H ₉ Na0 ₅ ). The slurry was stirred (-150 rpm, room temperature) for 40 minutes. Bromine was added and the stirring speed increased to -500 rpm for 15 minutes. Sodium formate (HCOONa) was added portion wise under the high stirring, and additionally stirred for 15 minutes. The resin was then washed with DW 10 x 1 GV in a SF P3, and drained weight recorded.

Dextran Sulfate Coupling

The brominated resin was transferred to a 250 mL 3N-RBF with DW, creating a 50-50 slurry under stirring in low rate (-150 rpm, room temperature). DxS-AB was added, and the reaction was left under stirring for 1 h. The flask was immersed in a 33 °C water bath, 50 % NaOH was added and the mixture left under stirring for 18 h. The coupling was stopped by adding DW, and the resin washed with DW 10 x 1 GV in a SF P3. Resin was drained and stored in the fridge in a 20 % EtOH at 65 % slurry concentration.

DxS 4 % MagSepharose Particle Size 0 - 37 pm

Step 1 - Allulation:

Drained weight of 41.6 g was treated with 41.6 mL 50 % NaOH and 10 mL AGE. Giving 35 g resin.

Dry weight measurements were performed in duplicates giving an average of 125 mg per mL resin. Volumetric allyl titration and allyl titration on weight were performed in duplicates giving an average of 214 pmol per mL resin and 1721 pmol per gram dry weight resin, respectively. Step 2 - Bromination:

35 mL DW, 1.25 g sodium acetate trihydrate, 1 mL bromine and 1.8 sodium formate were added for bromination. Giving 33 g resin.

Step 3 - Dextran sulfate coupling :

62 mL DW, 33 g DxS-AB and 3 mL 50 % NaOH were added for dextran sulfate coupling. Reaction stopped by adding 100 mL DW, and washed and drained resin weight to 27 g, whereof 20 g resin stored.

Dry weight measurements were performed in duplicates giving an average of 153 mg per mL resin. Volumetric ion capacity titration and ion capacity titration on weight were performed in duplicates giving an average of 100 pmol per mL resin and 650 pmol per gram dry weight resin, respectively.

DxS 2 % MagSepharose Particle size 0 - 100 pm

Step 1 - Mixing Two Fractions of 2 % MagSepharose Resin:

Two fractions were mixed to a homogenous slurry in a 250 mL 3N-RBF containing 45 mL DW: 15 mL 2 % MagSepharose 0 - 37 pm and 30 mL 2 % MagSepharose 37 - 100 pm. This resin was washed with DW 10 x 1 GV in SF P3, and drained weight to 44 g.

Step 2 - Allulation:

Drained weight of 44 g was treated with 45 mL 50 % NaOH and 10 mL AGE. Giving 38 g resin.

Dry weight measurements were performed in duplicates giving an average of 100 mg per mL resin. Volumetric allyl titration and allyl titration on weight were performed in duplicates giving an average of 125 pmol per mL resin and 1242 pmol per gram dry weight resin, respectively.

Step 3 - Bromination:

35 mL DW, 1.37 g sodium acetate trihydrate, 1 mL bromine and 1.8 sodium formate were added for bromination. Giving 35 g resin.

Step 4 - Dextran sulfate coupling :

45 mL DW, 33 g DxS-AB and 3 mL 50 % NaOH were added for dextran sulfate coupling. Reaction stopped by adding 100 mL DW. Instead of washing in SF P3, a MagRack suitable for 500 mL Duran™ flask was used. The washing procedure was the same as shown in Figure 3.1. Resin drained in SF P3, and weight to 33 g. Note: the resin was not stored before sieving.

Dry weight measurements were not performed due to complications with volumetric cubing. No volumetric ion capacity titration could either be performed. Ion capacity titration on weight were performed in duplicates giving an average of 730 pmol per gram dry weight resin.

Step 6 - Sieving:

The resin above was sieved on 37 pm on Sweco™ Separator (model no. S18S) and sieving cloth 37 C (18A8A, M6370, 37 pm), getting two fractions: 0 - 37 pm and 37 - 100 pm. After sedimentation, the fraction 0 - 37 pm had a volume of about 9 mL, and the one of 37 - 100 pm about 28 mL.

EXPERIMENT 5: Adenovirus binding of DxO Prototype

The stored DxQ functionalized prototypes as well as the reference prototype Q MagSepharose 4FF were all pipetted by volumes of 10, 7, 5 and 2 pL to individual 2 mL Eppendorf® tubes.

1 mL of 20 mM Tris + 300 mM NaCI pH 8.0 was added to each Eppendorf tube for washing, and each sample was washed using MagRack 6. Washing repeated three cycles, and the last volume of supernatant waste at the bottom of the Eppendorf tubes were pipetted away.

1 mL adenovirus feed (AdV 5-GFP; concentration: 4.05 x 10 ¹⁰ VP/mL) was pipetted to each Eppendorf tube. Incubation were conducted for one hour using a shaking table (~ 300 rpm). The incubated beads were all trapped using MagRack 6, and 500 pL supernatant samples were pipetted to individual 2 mL HPLC vials (Agilent Technologies) when beads were still trapped.

The HPLC vials were placed in an Agilent Technologies 1260 Infinity Bioinert system for chromatographic analysis of adenovirus content. Following chromatographic settings were used for the analysis.

UV-detection: 260 nm Injection volume: 100 pL Sample temperature: 8 °C A- buffer: 20 mM Tris pH 7.5

B- buffer: 20 mM Tris + 1 M NaCI pH 7.5

Flow-rate: 1.5 mL/min

Column: Q Sepharose XL™ 1.0 mL in Tricorn™ 5 column

Gradient: 100 % A- buffer / 0 % B- buffer: 3 min 30 % A-buffer / 70 % B-buffer: 3 - 13 min 30 % A-buffer / 70 % B-buffer: 13 - 14 min 0 % A-buffer / 100 % B-buffer: 14 - 16 min 0 % A-buffer / 100 % B-buffer: 16 - 23 min

Following peak areas were obtained for the supernatant samples, Table 7.

Table 7

EXPERIMENT 4: Influenza Virus Binding on DxS Prototypes

From the DxS functionalized prototypes were volumes of 50, 100, 200 and 500 pL beads pipetted into individual 10 mL Falcon tubes. 10 mL 20 mM Tris pH 7.5 + 150 mM NaCI was added for washing in total three times. The last volume of supernatant waste at the bottom of the Falcon tubes were pipetted away.

10 mL crude influenza feed (H1N1 Influenza-A Virus Solomon lsland/03/06) was pipetted into each Falcon tube, and incubation was conducted for one hour using head-over-head rotation (~60 rpm).

All beads in the sample tubes were individually trapped by MagRack Maxi after incubation, and 2 mL supernatant samples were saved in individual 2 mL Eppendorf tubes for HA analysis. The remaining incubation supernatants were decanted to waste.

The beads were washed three times with 10 mL 20 mM Tris pH 7.5 + 150 mM NaCI in MagRack Maxi. The last volumes of supernatant wastes at the bottom of the Falcon tubes were pipetted away.

Elution of influenza virus was conducted by adding 1 mL 20 mM Tris pH 7.5 + 0.75 M NaCI to each system, and stirring the Falcon tubes for ten minutes by hand. Beads were then captured by MagRack Maxi, and 2 mL elution sample from each system were saved in separate 2 mL Eppendorf tubes. The remaining elution supernatant was decanted to waste. This procedure was repeated in total three times, and gave three elution samples for analysis.

RESULTS for DxQ Prototypes

The experimental results for direct capture of adenovirus using DxQ prototypes are shown in this section. See Tables 8-13 below.

Volume Beads Volume beads for virus incubation.

Volume Feed The volume adenovirus feed used for incubation.

The titer of adenovirus feed used for incubation (denoted c ₀ in the

Titer Feed relevant equation).

The chromatograph peak area of the supernatant sample, i.e. the virus in

Peak Area mobile phase not captured by the beads at equilibrium.

Virus Titer in

The chromatogram area’s corresponding virus amount using the relevant Supernatant equation. After Incubation (c*)

The specific capacity for a volume of beads. Calculated by deducting the captured beads from the start titer feed and divide by volume beads (unit

Virus Bound (Q*) in VP per mL resin).

Table8

Table9 Table 10

Table 11 Table 12

Table 13 Q MagSepharose 4FF 37 - 100 pm 1.46 17.5

Adenovirus Binding Kinetic Study Table 14 below presents the data for percentage virus uptake as a function of time.

RESULTS for DxS Prototypes

The experimental results for direct capture of influenza virus using DxS prototypes are shown in this section, see Tables 14-17below.

Volume beads Volume beads for virus incubation.

HA concentration in supernatant after The HA concentration in the supernatant after incubation. incubation (c*)

HA content in

The HA content in the supernatant after incubation. supernatant after (c* x Start feed volume ) incubation

The calculated captured HA from the supernatant data.

HA bound by beads

( Start HA content - HA content in supernatant after incubation )

The specific capacity for a volume of beads.

Capacity (Q*) i HA bound by beads\

V Volume beads )

Recovered HA after

The total pg recovered HA after three elution steps. Analyzed in Biacore. elution

Step How much HA eluted compared to bound. yield i Recovered HA after elution 1 HA bound by beads )

Overall How much HA eluted compared to initial HA provided.

Start HA content Table 14

Table 15 Table 16 Table 17