Montreal-based Two-Photon Research (TPR) has unveiled CAST, a diagnostics platform that detects the SARS-CoV-2 with a smartphone. The CAST platform uses TPR’s patented Aptamer Molecular Photonic Beacon (AMPB) that photonically interfaces with smartphones. The first application of CAST is for detecting SARS-CoV-2 to help control the COVID-19 pandemic.

The FlowSyn Multi-X from Uniqsis takes the drudgery out of reaction optimization – effortlessly converting batch chemistry methods to more efficient, higher yielding flow chemistry protocols.
Flow chemistry in microreactors offers many advantages over batch processing notably better reproducibility and scalability, improved yields and fewer problems with unstable intermediates or exothermic reactions.
The FlowSyn Multi-X uses an enhanced FlowSyn control interface to control either a single or a 4-rack fraction collector thereby enabling a sequence of experiments to be performed without the need for a separate PC. Capable of running unattended, it will perform up to 10 sequential experiments and collect the results as fractions or steady state samples allowing the user to vary the key flow-through parameters (stoichiometry, temperature and residence time) in each case.
The entry-level FlowSyn Multi-X system is compact with an integrated controller enabling the user to quickly explore or optimize reaction conditions. Setting up a series of experiments on the FlowSyn Multi-X system is easy – just follow three simple steps. First, set up a single ‘prototype’ reaction, then set up the fraction collector before selecting ‘Table View’ to edit individual experiments and then press ‘Start’ and walk-away.
The option of a Data Logging Software Package enables the FlowSyn Multi-X to both visualize data in real time and save pressure and temperature traces. Alternatively, the powerful FlowControl II system control software can be selected, which links via Wi-Fi and automatically saves complete experimental procedures with all data, including automation events. FlowControl II allows previous experiments to be reloaded and either viewed or repeated with or without modification.
To expand the capabilities of the FlowSyn Multi-X, additional pumps and reactor modules can be added and sequences of up to 100 individual experiments can be performed.
Designed by a team of experienced flow chemists and engineers, FlowSyn Multi-X is based upon the internationally popular FlowSyn, a fully integrated, easy to use continuous flow reactor for seamless reaction optimization and scale up from milligrams to hundreds of grams.
For more information, visit: www.uniqsis.com
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OXGENE, a biotechnology company designing and developing scalable gene therapy technologies, has launched its scalable, plasmid-free manufacturing system for AAV. OXGENE’s new TESSA technology addresses industrywide challenges associated with robust and reproducible AAV manufacture at scale. These include high cost of goods and low packaging efficiency. TESSA aims to deliver a paradigm shift in scalable AAV manufacture.
Adeno-associated virus, or AAV, is a popular choice of viral vector to deliver gene therapies to patients, owing to its low immunogenicity, favourable safety profile and the ease with which it transduces numerous cell and tissue types. However, manufacturing systems have not kept pace with biological advances, leaving these therapies costly, difficult to produce at scale, and subject to inherent batch-to-batch variability. This represents a serious challenge to regulators and health authorities when it comes to approving these treatments for clinical use.
OXGENE’s TESSA technology overcomes manufacturing obstacles by taking advantage of AAV’s natural relationship with another virus – the adenovirus. In nature, AAV co-exists with adenovirus, which provides the ‘help’ AAV needs to replicate. However, as well as replicating the AAV, the adenovirus also replicates itself, leading to high levels of adenoviral contamination if this process is translated to an industrial context.
OXGENE has addressed these challenges by manipulating the adenoviral life cycle so that it can still provide high quality help for AAV replication, but is unable to manufacture itself, reducing adenoviral contamination by 99.9999% in a manufacturing run. Integration of the AAV rep and cap genes into the adenoviral vector means that everything required for AAV production, except the AAV genome, can be provided in a single viral vector. Meanwhile, the AAV genome can either be encoded within a second TESSA vector, in a plasmid, or within an AAV particle itself. Using two TESSA vectors improves yields of AAV2 by 40-fold, accompanied by a 2000-fold increase in particle infectivity compared to a standard three-plasmid manufacturing approach.
Once this first AAV seed stock has been produced, co-infecting cells with this AAV alongside another TESSA vector can further amplify the AAV in a simple, reproducible and scalable manner, removing the reliance on expensive and limiting plasmids for AAV manufacture.
OXGENE has so far developed and validated TESSA vectors for AAV2, 5, 6 and 9 and is now taking requests for service projects and product pre-orders to further develop and evaluate this technology.
For more information, visit: www.oxgene.com/TESSA
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