512. Characterization of Adsorption of Adeno-Associated Virus to Commonly Used Catheter Materials: AAV2 vs. AAV1/2
Authors: Daisy P. Cross, Marty Morris
Journal: Molecular Therapy (2006)

Previous studies have suggested that some materials that are commonly used in injection catheters (e.g., stainless steel, nitinol) inactivate adenovirus (Adv), a viral vector that is widely used in the field of gene therapy. We have previously reported that the activity of recombinant adeno-associated virus serotype 2 (rAAV2) is also decreased after exposure to stainless steel and nitinol. However, unlike findings with Adv, the decreased rAAV2-mediated gene expression following contact with these materials is due to adsorption of the rAAV2 protein capsids to the materials, not inactivation of the rAAV2 itself.In our current study, we investigated the stability of a different AAV serotype, rAAV1/2, when exposed to metals, ceramics, and polymers. Solutions of rAAV1/2 encoding for enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) were aspirated into small diameter tubing of several different catheter materials. At 75 min after aspiration, virus solution was ejected out of the catheter and applied to cultured cells. Incubation with polypropylene was used as the negative control. EGFP expression was assessed via flow cytometry, and viral titers were assessed via ELISA. Characterization of the material surfaces was performed via scanning electron microscope (SEM) imaging. Our results indicate that 1) AAV1/2-mediated expression of eGFP decreased after exposure to catheter materials and 2) this decrease—similar to the behavior of rAAV2—is primarily due to adsorption rather than inactivation of the virus. Previous studies have suggested that some materials that are commonly used in injection catheters (e.g., stainless steel, nitinol) inactivate adenovirus (Adv), a viral vector that is widely used in the field of gene therapy. We have previously reported that the activity of recombinant adeno-associated virus serotype 2 (rAAV2) is also decreased after exposure to stainless steel and nitinol. However, unlike findings with Adv, the decreased rAAV2-mediated gene expression following contact with these materials is due to adsorption of the rAAV2 protein capsids to the materials, not inactivation of the rAAV2 itself. In our current study, we investigated the stability of a different AAV serotype, rAAV1/2, when exposed to metals, ceramics, and polymers. Solutions of rAAV1/2 encoding for enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) were aspirated into small diameter tubing of several different catheter materials. At 75 min after aspiration, virus solution was ejected out of the catheter and applied to cultured cells. Incubation with polypropylene was used as the negative control. EGFP expression was assessed via flow cytometry, and viral titers were assessed via ELISA. Characterization of the material surfaces was performed via scanning electron microscope (SEM) imaging. Our results indicate that 1) AAV1/2-mediated expression of eGFP decreased after exposure to catheter materials and 2) this decrease—similar to the behavior of rAAV2—is primarily due to adsorption rather than inactivation of the virus.