A Novel Supramolecular High Affinity Protein-Binding System for Purification of Biomacromolecules

Market hold: no patent application filed for this invention.

Unmet Need

·        It is estimated that between ~50-80% of costs in antibody production are spent in purification (Mustafaoglu et al. 2016), which is typically performed by affinity chromatography. Although this method has adequate binding affinity and selectivity, the process remains costly and components degrade over time (Ramos-de-la-Peña et al. 2019). Therefore, there is a strong need for a cheaper and more flexible antibody purification method that maintains capture capacity.

Technology Description

·        Researchers at Johns Hopkins have developed a technology to separate and purify antibodies with immune-amphiphile immunofibers (IFs), that have the capacity to self-assemble and disassemble for efficient separation between antibody and purification substrate. The technology utilizes cheaper, well-established techniques such as centrifugation and dialysis methods on a platform that can increase antibody purification capacity significantly due to the chemical conformation flexibility of the system.

Value Proposition

·        Versatility in protein target selection with small platform changes

·        Streamlined three-step protocol in a one-pot set-up, reducing reagent waste

·        Requires no enzymes, heat, or denaturants that traditionally would diminish yields

Stage of Development

·        Extensive characterization has been performed to characterize carrying capacity and reuse for selective antibody targets

·        Preliminary in vitro data has shown an ~90% recovery of an antibody target

Data Availability

·        Data available upon request, and in the publications below.

Publications

1.      Li, Y. et al., Nano Letters (2022).

2.      Li, Y. et al., Biomaterials (2018).

Patent Information

1.      Cui, H. et al., US20200197902A1.

2.      Cui, H. et al., US11359005B2