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UCL Department of Biochemical Engineering

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Innovative nanofiber technology captures viral medicines

2 April 2019

UCL Biochemical Engineering has pioneered the use of new materials to allow viruses to be captured at a microscopic level to make medicines such as T-cell therapy, vaccines and other so-called “next generation therapies.”

Adeno Em metalised nanofibre

Professor Dan Bracewell and his team set up a company called Puridify to develop and manufacture nanofiber based materials to advance the manufacture of next generation therapies. A recent article in Biotechnology and Bioengineering titled “Adenovirus 5 Recovery Using Nanofiber Ion Exchange Adsorbents” sets out how they have successfully used the nanofibers to purify adenovirus. This has significant implications for health and medicine manufacture as viruses can be used to make a wide range of new medicines, such as vaccines, and the desired product can be separated from the rest of the virus. 
“Since Puridify was bought out by GE Healthcare we’ve been very excited to see the rapid development of our technology and have been looking forward to seeing the impact it will have on global health. This publication represents a significant step in the journey towards the manufacture of next generation therapies, and the goal of making such products affordable.”