Sartorius Enters Research Partnership with The BASE Facility at the University of Queensland

Sartorius and The BASE teaming up will facilitate mutual development processes and protocols tailored for varied nucleic acid-based products.

GOETTINGEN, Germany, October 24, 2022 / B3C newswire / -- Sartorius entered a research partnership with The BASE Facility at The University of Queensland (UQ) to improve the manufacturing process of nucleic acid products led by the external collaboration group, Separation Technology Marketing team. The BASE facility is an internationally recognized leader in mRNA sciences at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN) at UQ. Associate Professor Tim Mercer and Dr. Seth Cheetham are leading the BASE facility using the Sartorius platform to provide process development and pre-clinical production services of pDNA, mRNA, dsRNA and ssRNA for researchers, clinicians and external companies. Founded in 2021, The BASE facility is funded by Therapeutic Innovation Australia and The University of Queensland. The collaboration will leverage BASE's advanced manufacturing and analytics capabilities including novel next-generation sequencing approaches to co-develop protocols and methods for nucleic acid-based products production.

The BASE facility production platform is equipped with the Ambr 15 multi-parallel bioreactor system along with the Ambr Crossflow for multi-parallel crossflow filtration while the PATfix HPLC system is implemented for analytics and quality control. Teaming up with Sartorius will facilitate mutual collaboration to develop processes and protocols tailored for different nucleic acid-based products. Sartorius platform provides the foundations for implementing automation technologies and Design of Experiments (DoE) principals in bioprocessing.

Founded on The BASE facility extensive expertise in mRNA, the Ambr 15 system is utilized for optimizing in-vitro transcription reactions to synthesis mRNA in a cell-free step. The built-in MODDE DoE software leverage the Ambr 15 system’s unique capacity to run the 24-multiparallel 15ml mini-bioreactors for screening different process conditions. Like the Ambr 15, the Ambr Crossflow system provides a scale down model for crossflow filtration processes that are core part of pDNA and mRNA downstream processing. The Ambr Crossflow have high automation capabilities combined with DoE to be the ideal tool for developing robust process that can be scaled up at larger volumes. Both Ambr systems implement single-use technologies to match emerging bioprocessing platforms at larger scales while achieving significant cost reduction compared to conventional process development platforms where volumes are larger and multi-parallel bioprocessing is not an option.

The PATfix HPLC system provides accurate quantification of nucleic acid-based products using Sartorius Monolith CIMac analytical columns. The BASE facility scientists use such powerful HPLC system to ensure quality control analytics are integral to different productions steps and deliver high quality material to their partners.

The BASE Facility team strives to support scientists and clinicians by producing high-quality mRNA material through processes that ascribe to industry-leading standards. The combination of the Sartorius systems will greatly accelerate the accuracy and speed of tasks of bioprocess optimization to support the BASE facility delivering its mission.

About Sartorius
The Sartorius Group is a leading international partner of life science research and the biopharmaceutical industry. With innovative laboratory instruments and consumables, the Group’s Lab Products & Services Division concentrates on serving the needs of laboratories performing research and quality control at pharma and biopharma companies and those of academic research institutes. The Bioprocess Solutions Division with its broad product portfolio focusing on single-use solutions helps customers to manufacture biotech medications and vaccines safely and efficiently. The Group has been annually growing by double digits on average and has been regularly expanding its portfolio by acquisitions of complementary technologies. In fiscal 2021, the company earned sales revenue of some 3.45 billion euros according to preliminary figures. At the end of 2021, nearly 14,000 people were employed at the Group’s approximately 60 manufacturing and sales sites, serving customers around the globe. Follow Sartorius on Twitter @Sartorius_Group and on LinkedIn.

About The BASE Facility
BASE is a leading national facility for manufacturing and research of mRNA technologies. Based at the University of Queensland, BASE is a team of passionate scientists with the advanced equipment needed to produce quality mRNA to support the next generation of advances in health, industry and agriculture by Australian scientists.
The BASE facility is housed at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology and provides synthetic RNA and DNA to support Australian research. This support includes manufacturing high-quality nucleic acids, including mRNA vaccines and therapies, double-stranded RNA and plasmid DNA vectors.

About the AIBN
The Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN) creates solutions for some of society’s most serious problems in health, energy and the bioeconomy. Established in 2004 at The University of Queensland, it is one of the largest institutes of its kind globally, with its 400-strong team works closely with industry to translate cutting-edge science into practical solutions to help shift global reliance on fossil fuels; create healthier communities; build stronger, more sustainable economies; and create a more sustainable footprint overall. The AIBN develops the platform technologies that can be applied across a range of industries from pharma and biotech to waste disposal, manufacturing, energy and transportation.

Contact

Buck McKay
Media Relations Manager
buck.mckay@sartorius.com
www.sartorius.com

Follow Sartorius on Twitter @Sartorius_Group and on LinkedIn.

Keywords: RNA, Messenger; Bioengineering; Automation; Bioreactors; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing; Pharmaceutical Production; Manufacturing; Genetic Therapy; Industry;  Commerce; Life Science; Biotechnology; Germany; Australia

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