AFFINITY CHROMATOGRAPHY DEVICES CONTAINING A FIBRILLATED POLYMER MEMBRANE FOR THE SEPARATION OF MRNA AND VIRAL VECTORS FROM AN AQUEOUS MIXTURE

The present disclosure is directed to affinity chromatography devices that include a fibrillated polymer membrane that contains therein inorganic particles that separate a targeted molecule from an aqueous mixture containing the targeted molecule. The targeted molecule includes proteins, antibodies, viral vectors, nucleic acids, and combinations thereof. The inorganic particles may be spherical or irregular in shape. A blend or combination of various sizes and/or shapes of inorganic particles may be utilized. An affinity ligand may be bonded to the inorganic particles and/or to the fibrillated polymer membrane. The affinity chromatography device may be repeatedly used and may be cleaned between uses. In some embodiments, the affinity chromatography devices separate nucleic acids (e.g., mRNA) and viral vectors (e.g., adeno-associated virus) from the aqueous mixture. Manifolds containing multiple affinity chromatography devices in a parallel configuration and multiple manifolds in a parallel configuration are also disclosed.