Chromatography in Viral Vector and Gene Therapy Purification
Gene therapy has accelerated the need for high-purity viral vectors such as AAV, lentivirus, and adenovirus. Preparative and process chromatography are essential for purifying these delicate biological entities while maintaining their infectivity and structural integrity.
Affinity chromatography uses ligands that selectively bind viral capsids, allowing high-purity capture in a single step. Ion-exchange methods help remove host-cell proteins, DNA, and empty capsids, which may compromise therapeutic performance.
Size-exclusion chromatography assists in separating viral particles from aggregates and smaller impurities. Maintaining gentle flow conditions and low shear forces is critical to avoid damaging viral structures.
As gene therapies grow in clinical use, scalable and robust purification strategies become increasingly important. Process chromatography provides the resolution, control, and flexibility needed to support safe and consistent production.