Are you researching COVID-19?

If you are conducting SARS-Cov2 research on vaccines or therapeutics, we can be of assistance!

In these unprecedented times Icon Scientific is committed to supplying our customers and new laboratories with the equipment needed to support COVID-19 research and development. Icon Scientific’s guidance and equipment helps laboratories better address their research challenges.

Liquid Chromatography (LC) technology can support your efforts. HPLC has numerous capabilities applicable to SARS-CoV2 research. Liquid Chromatography can be used in multiple tasks ranging from analytical applications to preparative applications and purification:

Liquid Chromatography is an instrumental research tool used for vaccine research and therapeutic drug development and purification. 

Liquid chromatography technology is used for:

  • RNA purification
  • Protein purification 
  • Analytical analysis 
  • Analysis of active agents 
  • And much more 

Analytical methods are being used to examine small molecules for their ability to replicate and transmit SARS-CoV2. Liquid Chromatography has successfully been used to separate an identify small molecules for drug applications and drug metabolism research. 

Fast Protein Liquid Chromatography (FPLC) is a form of liquid chromatography used to purify large biomolecules (proteins or DNA). External factors such as: high pressure, extreme pH, high temperature or solvents are avoided in FPLC because they tend to disturb the protein structure. 

Column materials are made from agarose or polymers and are packed to avoid pressure fluctuations or air bubbles. These systems provide easy scale-up.

The structural data of several SARS-CoV2 proteins gives valuable information for both drug and vaccine developments. Fast Liquid Protein Chromatography (FPLC) is the chosen method to support protein purifications. Particular SARS-CoV2 proteins present a major focus on vaccine and antiviral therapeutic strategies. Many biologists are working to understand the structural properties of the protein interactions that are involved in SARS-CoV2 to infection and how they function. An important step for structural analysis is the purification of proteins in a solution. This has provided valuable insight into understanding how viral biomolecules enter healthy cells and infect people. The first step in achieving this is to access the pure proteins. Automated protein purification techniques are used, with FPLC being the technique of choice. 

There have been many recent publications reporting the function of COVID-19 proteins. These findings are providing insight on how the virus invades human cells, their functionality and how they do damage. The surface spike glycoprotein of SARS-CoV2 is a critically important protein. The spike protein binds to the ACE2 receptor on human cells enabling the CoV2 virus to enter cells and infect them. The ACE2 receptor is also known as angiotensin converting enzyme II. The critical role of the spike protein for human infection makes it one of the primary targets for medical intervention. It is important to understand the viral mode of entry in order to develop vaccines and antiviral therapeutics. 

The main protease (Mpro, 3 CLpro) of SARS-COVID2 Is a potential drug target. Virus replication can be stopped by inhibiting this protease. Based on structural information of the virus, compounds have been identified to serve as protease inhibitors which could develop into an anti SARS-COVID2 drug.

Both of these proteins present primary targets for vaccination and antiviral strategies showing the importance of gaining structural data of purified protein. The purification of proteins is incredibly important for structural analysis. Fast Liquid Protein Chromatography (FPLC) is the best technique for protein purification. Knauer FPLC systems allowed researchers to automate their protein purification and increase reproducibility, saving time and money. Knauer FPLC systems offer flexibility, modularity and easily scale up. We can design a system to fit your needs. 

These products are currently used for SARS-CoV2 research:

                  A49032- Multi Method FPL C system 

                  A49030- Bio Purification system 

                  A49031- Bio Purification system 

FPLC systems can be designed to fit your purification task. We uniquely offer complete solutions for FPLC (Fast Protein Liquid Chromatography) in a small footprint AZURA FPLC systems are flexible and reliable. The bio compatible metal free AZURA FPLC is the perfect choice for your protein purification. We offer automatic sample injection via autosampler, column switching, buffer and sample selection and fraction collection. These features enable the user to automate their purification process. Choose from a wide range of detectors to make it easier to see your target molecules. Varied flow rates and compatibility to columns (regardless of vendor) maximize flexibility. Purity Chrome software has all of the advantages of versatile purification software.

                  A 49023- Multimethod FPLC system 

                  A 49033- Advanced Bio/Purification 

                  A 49031- Bio Purification System for AC 

                  A 49030- Bio Purification System for SEC

                  A 49034- High Flow Bio Purification System  

Our comprehensive portfolio of analytical research equipment will help you identify and purify future therapeutic options and to develop and test vaccines. Our equipment has the ability to quickly scale-up development and production. We are all working together to achieve the same goal: to BEAT COVID-19.