Julie Chambart
Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Process Analytical Technology
Ottergemsesteenweg 460
B-9000 Gent (Belgium)
Tel.: +32-9-264.8068
E-mail: Julie.Chambart@UGent.be
Education: Industrial Pharmacist (Master in Industrial Pharmacy)
Development of a predictive platform for freeze-drying of LNP-based formulations
mRNA lipid nanoparticles have marked a breakthrough against COVID-19. Beyond their efficacy in viral defence, mRNA vaccines also hold promise for diverse applications, including protein replacement therapies, cancer immunotherapies, cellular reprogramming, and genome editing. However, the formulation still faces several challenges, including the requirement for ultra-cold storage.
To address this challenge, lyophilization emerges as a potential solution to ensure the long-term stability of these vaccines. While conventional batch lyophilization is time-consuming, spin-lyophilization provides a more efficient method. This method involves rotating vials along their longitudinal axis during the freezing step, creating a thin layer with relatively uniform thickness on the inner walls of the vials, which significantly reduces drying times.
This project aims to develop a predictive platform that will allow to predict the optimal formulation and lyophilization process parameters for new mRNA lipid nanoparticles. The implementation of this predictive platform will reduce development time and costs while enhancing the global accessibility of mRNA lipid nanoparticles.