bioSAXS case studies

A novel approach to monitor the effects of large scale manufacturing on a new saRNA vaccine.

The Covid-19 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has claimed a global death toll of many millions of people and caused major disruption across the world. The development of mRNA vaccine technology has been a major scientific advancement from the pandemic with several vaccines now in development, undergoing trials and approvals or approved and in use.

The mRNA vaccines work by providing an mRNA copy of the target antigen (typically the SARS-Cov-2 spike protein) to the host cell allowing the cell to recognise the spike protein and prepare defences in advance of viral infection. Self-amplifying (sa) RNA vaccines represent the next generation of RNA vaccines which cause the host cell to multiply the number of copies of the target antigen RNA. The in vivo amplification allows the saRNA vaccine to be delivered at significantly lower doses, reducing side effects for patients.

Exploring novel antibodies to neutralise the RBD of SARS-CoV-2

The COVID-19 virus pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus poses an ongoing serious global health threat that requires effective and safe therapeutics. The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus uses its spike glycoprotein to bind to the host receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2) and enter the body’s cells.

The receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the spike glycoprotein is the main target for neutralising antibodies as it can block the virus-host interaction and prevent the infection. The RBD is highly variable and can mutate to escape recognition by antibodies, thus reducing their efficacy and increasing the risk of resistance.

Moreover, the RBD is only exposed transiently on the spike glycoprotein, making it difficult for antibodies to access and bind to it. Novel antibodies are needed that can recognise and neutralise the RBD of SARS-CoV-2 with high potency and stability, regardless of its variability and accessibility

Developing a stable lipid delivery vehicle for drug candidates

The ability to modulate drug delivery at therapeutically effective doses over a sustained period of time, in vivo, is very challenging. In the case of poorly water-soluble drugs this requires a carefully designed matrix to manage and maintain their controlled release.

Lipid cubic phase carriers offer an effective way to transport both small molecules and larger proteins through oral and parenteral routes (those outside of the digestive tract), as well as local delivery via subcutaneous and intramuscular routes. Complex interactions between the drug and the lipid matrix govern the release profile; for hydrophilic drugs, release can be very fast. The carriers can also be compromised by naturally occurring lipolytic enzymes which act to break down the lipid microstructure.

Phase Change Materials for thermal energy storage

With 27% of global energy consumption occurring in the residential sector, harvesting and storing thermal energy is increasingly important. 
A promising technology is based on phase-change materials (PCMs) that absorb or release large amounts of heat when they change state, e.g. from solid to liquid.

PCMs incorporated into building materials could remove excess heat during the day and release it at night, with minimum carbon emissions. One approach in stabilising PCMs for use is nanoscale confinement in core-shell structures.

Characterising variants in clinical grade biopharmaceuticals

Medicinal products extracted from biological sources, called biopharmaceuticals or biologics, must be carefully produced to ensure that only high purity active material is generated. Biopharmaceutical manufacturing processes can have an impact on the amount of product-related variants in the final clinical material. Understanding and controlling amounts of these product-related variants is a major challenge in the development of biopharmaceutical products.

Tropoelastin: nature's perfect nanoscale spring

Elastin allows tissues in humans and other mammals to stretch and return to original shape e.g. during respiration or heart beats. The schematic on the right shows how many tropoelastin monomers (blue) can selfassemble and cross-link (red) to form elastin but the structure of the soluble precursor of elastin, tropoelastin, is not well understood.