Project description
Novel purification method for gene therapy vehicles
Gene therapy holds enormous potential for treating debilitating diseases, but manufacturing the viral particles that deliver genetic material remains a major challenge. In particular, improved purification methods are needed to guarantee purity, structural integrity and batch-to-batch consistency, which are critical for both safety and efficacy. The ERC-funded CAPTOMER project proposes a novel isolation technique using programmable, liquid-like materials called coacervates. Made from specialised polymers, these gentle materials can selectively capture the viral particles while preserving their integrity during purification. Previously tested on other biological nanoparticles, this scalable method has shown improvements in purity, yield and processing time. The CAPTOMER method could transform the manufacture of gene therapy products and advance next-generation therapeutic strategies.
Objective
"Gene therapy and RNA-based therapeutics hold significant promise for treating a range of debilitating disorders. A key challenge for these therapies is the effective targeted delivery, which relies on nanovehicles to ensure the stability of the delicate nucleic acids involved. Biogenic nanoparticles, such as adeno-associated viruses (AAVs), are becoming increasingly promising for these applications, with some AAV-based therapies already receiving regulatory approval. However, maintaining the physicochemical properties essential for the efficacy and safety of these products presents significant challenges, particularly due to their complex manufacturing processes, which often result in a high degree of impurities or perturbations in their structures. Traditional bioseparation methods, such as chromatography, struggle to efficiently isolate these nanoparticles without compromising their quality.
To address these issues, this project proposes a novel isolation technique for AAVs using functionalized, programmable liquid-like coacervates formed from zwitterionic polymers. Previous applications on extracellular vesicles demonstrated significant improvements in purity, yield, and processing time compared to conventional methods. The liquid nature of coacervates preserves particle integrity during isolation while their anti-fouling properties enhance specificity in capturing target molecules. This scalable approach integrates the benefits of existing purification methods, offering a gentler, efficient, and simple solution for bioseparation.
Building on the success of the Consolidator ERC-funded ""VELCROproteins"" project, this initiative translates insights obtained from biological condensate research to design coacervates with tunable properties for diverse biotechnological applications, particularly in the healthcare sector. The project aims to establish a new purification processes for crucial nanomaterials, paving the way for advanced therapeutic strategies."
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC-POC - HORIZON ERC Proof of Concept Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2025-POC
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
8092 Zuerich
Switzerland
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.