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Viruses have emerged as a new class of biotherapeutics used as vectors in gene and cell therapies, vaccines, and as oncolytic agents in novel cancer immunotherapies. While these new and potentially curative new therapies bring great promise for patients, the large-scale purification of viruses is hampered by complicated unit operations, poor overall yields, and high costs. Membrane chromatography (MC) is one of the most ideal options for the removal of host-cell impurities in virus manufacturing. Centred on developing and improving MC processes for virus purification, this thesis focuses on different aspects of downstream processes that are directly related to MC. It describes the development of the first hydrophobic interaction MC process for the purification of vesicular stomatitis virus as a scalable method for the removal of host-cell protein and DNA. It also describes the development of MC for adenovirus purification, and how device design and membrane type impact the resolution; here, the novel laterally-fed membrane chromatography (LFMC) was proven to provide higher resolution than conventional MC devices, and allowed for the first direct comparison between the most popularly used membranes in virus manufacturing – Sartobind Q and Mustang Q. Beyond MC, this thesis also addresses how other downstream unit operations contribute to the final purity. Through an integrated study optimizing clarification, DNA digestion, and MC simultaneously, significant improvement in adenovirus purity was obtained. Finally, the collection of experimental results was used to model complete adenovirus production processes using BioSolve Process and determine the cost-of-goods (COG) of manufacturing for clinical applications. Through simulations of multiple scenarios, critical process parameters were identified and can serve as a guide for future process development decisions. It is anticipated that the contributions herein described will help address critically outstanding questions related to virus purification and thus enable the development of the economical processes for various manufacturing scales. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / Certain viruses can be used for human benefit and there are now more than a dozen approved therapies worldwide that use a virus as the main therapeutic agent or as the vector to instruct the patient’s cells to fight cancer and other diseases. The area keeps growing as thousands of other clinical trials continue to be conducted. One of the main challenges that can inhibit patient access to these ground-breaking new options is related to difficulties in producing and purifying enough virus. This study tackles the virus purification challenge by applying and improving membrane chromatography (MC), a promising and scalable technique where virus and impurities are separated based on how differently they interact with a membrane. Different experimental and modelling and simulation tools were applied to optimize MC and other directly-related steps of the production process. The findings in this study can contribute to the development of new virus-based therapeutics so they can reach patients in safe, effective, and affordable ways.

Improved methods have been developed for separation of a-keto acid derivatives and for thiamine and its phosphate esters. Linear gradient reverse phase chromatography using ion-pair formation provides baseline resolution for a seven-component homologous series of a-keto acid dinitrophenylhydrazones having increasing carbon chain lengths. Branched-chain keto acids can also be separated. Aldehyde derivatives were examined as possible interfering compounds. Peak identification in biological material was confirmed for pyruvate by an enzymic peak shift technique. Monitoring near 365 nm permits low nanogram detection. Preliminary studies of keto acids in biological material illustrate the method's applicability. The same system with slight changes separates the thiamine phosphate esters and is compared with anion exchange chromatography. The thiamine method involves effluent oxidation to form the respective fluorescent thiochrome esters for selective fluorometric detection.

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