The Future of mRNA: Beyond the COVID-19 Vaccine
By Manasa Iyer, June 16, 2021
Synthetic biotechnology is the key to the future of medicine. From its conception in the late 20th century, the use of synthetic biological materials in medicine has progressed far beyond what many had thought to be possible just 20 years ago, and it only continues to rapidly gain momentum. Within synthetic biology, mRNA has displayed exceptional promise in shaping novel standards of vaccinology. Composed of nucleotide triplet codons, mRNA carries the sequence of amino acids that translate into proteins, which play critical roles in nearly every aspect of biological structure and function. This makes mRNA a strategic point-of-entry for the control of processes within the human body.
Higher Yields for Synthetic DNA Oligonucleotides
By Manasa Iyer, June 16, 2021
The biology revolution has created a large demand for high-quality oligonucleotides, resulting in many companies developing novel approaches to improve chemical DNA synthesis. Synthetic oligonucleotides are critical to modern techniques in nearly all disciplines of modern biology. A growing use, and perhaps commercially the most feasible, form of DNA synthesis is the creation of primers and probes for PCR. PCR works by using a relatively short (around 100 nt) single stranded DNA template. The DNA double helix unwinds during replication, exposing unpaired bases for new nucleotides to hydrogen bond to. Without the primer template PCR is unable to amplify DNA.
Growing Billions of Human Cells in the Lab... Faster!
There are four fundamental types of tissues in the human body: epithelium tissue, which is responsible for absorbing or secreting materials and for protecting tissue surfaces; muscular tissue, which is responsible for the movements of body organs such as the digestive tract and for skeletal movement; connective tissue, the most widely distributed tissue in the body supports and connects other tissues together; and finally, nervous tissue, which is capable of receiving stimuli and transferring signal and then bringing about a response.
Biopharma's Worst Nightmare: An FDA Recall.
Part I: The Good
The year 2017 was full of positive news for the Biopharma industry. Several biologic therapeutic “firsts” have recently been approved by the FDA: Kymriah, the first gene therapy in the US, which is approved for the treatment of patients up to 25 years of age with B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia that is refractory or in second or later relapse; MACI, the first FDA-approved product for repairing knee cartilage defects in adults that is grown from cells on scaffolds using healthy cartilage tissue from the patient’s own knee; Odactra, the first allergenic extract to be administered under the tongue for the treatment of house dust mite-induced nasal inflammation; and Haegarda, the first subcutaneous preventive treatment option for hereditary angioedema (HAE),
Biopharma's Worst Nightmare: An FDA Recall.
Part II: The Bad
Biologics have revolutionized the treatment of such chronic illnesses as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, Crohn's disease, and multiple sclerosis, and are widely used in treating a variety of cancers. To name just a few, these products include Enbrel, Humira, Remicade (infliximab), Avonex (inteferon beta-1a), Betaseron (interferon beta-1b), Tysabri, Cimzia (certolizumab pegol), Herceptin (trastuzumab), Rituxan (rituximab), Neupogen (filgrastim), Erythropoietin (EPO), Neulasta (pegfilgrastim) and Leukine (sargramostim). A drug is typically manufactured through chemical synthesis, which means that it is made by combining specific chemical ingredients in an ordered process.
Biopharma's Worst Nightmare: An FDA Recall.
Part III: The Ugly
Detection is one way to avoid having a contaminated batch from being released. However, detection cannot eliminate bacteria as a potential contaminant. Burkholderia cepacia, a common cause of FDA recalls, could be eliminated, in principle, using micro-filtration, 0.2 - 0.4 micron filters. In practice, the pore size in micro filters are just an average value, not a guaranteed maximum pore size. Pore size distributions are statistical measures around a mean value. Smaller and larger pores are possible. The specified average pore size only assures the value of the average pore size, not the size of the largest available pore or the absence of pinhole imperfections in the manufactured of the industry standard cellulosic (paper) and nylon (polymeric) filters.
Biopharma's Worst Nightmare: An FDA Recall.
Part IV: Gunfight at the OK Corral
Synthetic biotechnology is the key to the future of medicine. From its conception in the late 20th century, the use of synthetic biological materials in medicine has progressed far beyond what many had thought to be possible just 20 years ago, and it only continues to rapidly gain momentum. Within synthetic biology, mRNA has displayed exceptional promise in shaping novel standards of vaccinology. Composed of nucleotide triplet codons, mRNA carries the sequence of amino acids that translate into proteins, which play critical roles in nearly every aspect of biological structure and function. This makes mRNA a strategic point-of-entry for the control of processes within the human body.
The Age of Photonics: Beyond Electronics
Current electronics are prevalent in almost every aspect of day-to-day life. However, from fiber optics and telecommunications to medical imaging and cancer research, optics and photonics are advancing today’s critical technologies.