Product code: NL100100
INTRODUCTION Instructions for use Nereus LentiHERO® offers the combined benefits of very high recovery of lentiviral particles, significant reduction of contaminants, and ability to scale out.
Schematic of Nereus LentiHERO®
The spin column format is used with a benchtop centrifuge, with no need for ultracentrifugation, large chromatography systems, or tedious filtering by hand. Sample throughput can be increased simply by maximizing the benchtop centrifuge capacity. With Nereus LentiHERO®, feedstock volumes are reduced in the order of 10-fold depending on loading volume. Decreasing both contaminant levels and sample volumes reduces the time required for further concentration steps if desired, allowing more samples to be concentrated in any given day. As the lentiviral feedstock production method and titer will affect the performance of the Nereus LentiHERO®, a general protocol is given here. However, recommendations on process optimization are also included that may allow the final processed volume to be reduced to 2 mL, or for feedstocks to be used direct from harvest. Easy-to-use spin column format
Nereus LentiHERO® PC: NL100100 User Guide-v3
Protocol overview
Sample loading, up to 45 mL, via bench top centrifuge.
Load larger volumes and multiple samples simultaneously via a vacuum manifold.
Storage conditions | Quality Control The Nereus LentiHERO® device contains a storage buffer of 20% ethanol. For long-term storage, the device should be refrigerated at 4 °C. For short-term storage, the device can be kept at room temperature. It is important that these devices should not be allowed to dry out, as performance could be affected. This product has passed a flow test and an inspection test.
Working with recombinant lentivirus To avoid the potential hazards associated with recombinant lentivirus, it is recommended that precautions and practices established in Biosafety Level 2 guidelines are followed when using this device.
Equipment required per purification 50 mL centrifuge tubes with filter caps, for example, Z761028-180EA Sigma Aldrich 1x Nereus LentiHERO® Centrifuge capable of 1,000 x g spin speed, preferably refrigeration to 4 °C The maximum volume that the column can receive depends on the centrifuge used. For a swing-out centrifuge, the maximum volume is up to 15 mL. In a fixed angle centrifuge, this is limited to 12 mL for optimal performance.
Nereus LentiHERO® PC: NL100100 User Guide-v3
Nereus LentiHERO® GENERAL PURIFICATION PROTOCOL Buffers Processing VSV-G pseudotyped lentiviral vectors with buffers containing arginine has been demonstrated to give significant improvements in recovery (e.g., ~80% recovery from a load of 2.3E+9 TU / mL of adsorbent). Therefore, we recommend the VSV-G buffers for use with VSV-G pseudotyped lentiviral vectors. For non-VSV-G pseudotyped lentiviral vectors, we recommend starting with the Universal buffers, and screening for optimization. VSV-G buffers
Composition
A. SANITIZATION:
0.5 M NaOH
B. HIGH CONDUCTIVITY/STRIP/PRIME:
20 mM Tris, 2 M NaCl, 50 mM arginine, pH 7.2
C. EQUILIBRATION/WASH:
20 mM Tris, 20 mM MgCl2, 50 mM arginine, pH 7.2
D. ELUTION:
20 mM Tris, 20 mM MgCl2, 0.8 M arginine, pH 7.2
Universal buffers
Composition
A. SANITIZATION:
0.5 M NaOH
B. HIGH CONDUCTIVITY/STRIP/PRIME:
20 mM Tris, 2 M NaCl, pH 7 – 8
C. EQUILIBRATION/WASH:
20 mM Tris, 20 mM MgCl2, pH 7 – 8
D. ELUTION:
20 mM Tris, 20 mM MgCl2, 0.6 M NaCl, pH 7 – 8
If you generally use buffers with additives that have been shown to minimize lentiviral vector binding to plastics or tubing, we would recommend using those for the equilibration and wash steps; and adding sodium chloride to 600 mM to make the elution buffer.
Method Please note: • Read the entire protocol before starting. • The use of frozen-thawed feedstock will negatively impact lentiviral vector recovery. It is advisable to use fresh feedstocks where possible. • The recommended maximum capacity per device is 3E+10 viral particles.
Nereus LentiHERO® PC: NL100100 User Guide-v3
• Feedstocks should be clarified via centrifugation and a 0.45 µm PES filter prior to processing with the Nereus LentiHERO®. • The presence of high salt in harvested media is detrimental to lentiviral quality and will also prevent capture of lentiviral particles. • Collect and save the flow-through for later analysis, if you need to investigate the recovery of lentivirus at each step. • Centrifuge spin times are dependent on the individual feedstocks used. Extend the duration of the centrifuge spin if the feedstock does not pass through the filter in the recommended time. Do not increase the speed of rotation. • This method is based on the use of 50 mL tubes with filtered caps. If solid caps are used, the spin times may need to be extended. Do not increase the speed of rotation. • This product is for research use only.
Preparation of spin column 1. Place a rack inside the tissue culture hood. Remove the Nereus LentiHERO® from the packaging, and place inside the tissue culture hood. Remove the cap and discard the 20% EtOH storage buffer by tipping it out into a suitable waste container. Remove the plug. 2. Place the Nereus LentiHERO® into a clean 50 mL tube. Fit the filter lid onto the tube. Centrifuge at 1,000 x g for two minutes. Return the Nereus LentiHERO® to the rack. Lift out the Nereus LentiHERO® from the 50 mL tube and discard the flow-through. Replace the spin column into the tube. 3. Optional: The device can be sanitized with 4 mL of 500 mM NaOH (centrifuge at 1,000 x g for two minutes). Discard the flow-through. Pipette 4 mL of sterile water into the column, making sure to wash the inside of the column. Centrifuge at 1,000 x g for two minutes. Return the Nereus LentiHERO® to the rack and discard the flow-through. 4. Run 4 mL of high conductivity buffer B through the Nereus LentiHERO® to charge the unit. 5. Pipette 4 mL equilibration buffer into the column. Centrifuge at 1,000 x g for two minutes. Return the Nereus LentiHERO® to the rack and discard the flow-through.
Loading and wash of sample Clarified lentiviral feedstock can be loaded on to the Nereus LentiHERO® in several ways, depending on the volume being processed.
For volumes 5 – 45 mL: The device can be loaded multiple times to process your sample up to 45 mL. 6. Load the sample, (up to 15 mL in a swing out centrifuge, 12 mL in a fixed angle centrifuge) into column of the Nereus LentiHERO®. Centrifuge at 1,000 x g for two minutes, at 4 °C. 7. Repeat the loading step, until the load is complete, discarding the flow-through after every spin and using a clean centrifuge tube for each aliquot loaded.
Nereus LentiHERO® PC: NL100100 User Guide-v3
8. When sample loading is complete, add 4 mL wash buffer to the spin column, rinsing the buffer down the sides of the column to ensure all the feedstock is washed down to the filter. Centrifuge at 1,000 x g for two minutes, at 4 °C. 9. Proceed to elution step.
For volumes greater than 45 mL: 10. Samples can be loaded by attaching multiple Nereus LentiHERO® devices to a vacuum manifold. Alternatively, samples can be drawn through the Nereus LentiHERO® column by attaching a tubing and peristaltic pump system to the luer taper. Flow rates should be adjusted for a maximum rate of 2 mL / min. When sample loading is complete, add 4 mL wash buffer to the column, rinsing the buffer down the sides of the column to ensure all media is washed down to the filter. Draw the buffer through the nanofiber adsorbent with the chosen method. 11. Proceed to elution step.
Elution of retained lentiviral vectors The elution step is independent of which ever method was used for the loading and washing steps. When using VSV-G buffers, arginine will act as the as the eluting salt. In this case, it is not necessary to dilute the elution pool. When using the Universal buffers, the elution fraction should be diluted immediately 1:2 with the equilibration buffer or an appropriate media to lower overall conductivity to approximately 30 mS / cm. 12. When using the Universal buffers, add 4 mL wash buffer to a clean collection 50 mL tube. This will receive the purified lentiviral sample, allowing the salt containing elution buffer to be immediately diluted to preserve lentiviral vector functionality. 13. For both the Universal and VSV-G protocols, place the Nereus LentiHERO® device into the clean 50 mL collection tube and pipette 2 mL elution buffer into the column. Proceed without delay to centrifuge the device at 1,000 x g for two minutes, at 4 °C. The pool in the 50 mL collection tube is your purified sample 14. The purified lentiviral vector sample is in a final volume of 6 mL when using the Universal protocol, or 2 mL for the VSV-G protocol. This volume can be reduced through process optimization; see recommendations below. If required, the purified sample can then be further concentrated using either: a. A molecular weight 100 kDa cut-off filter b. Precipitation via a standard PEGylation method 15. Titrate the virus immediately and/or store at -80 °C for longer-term storage.
Nereus LentiHERO® PC: NL100100 User Guide-v3
Process optimization The Nereus LentiHERO® performance is affected by lentiviral feedstock production methods and titer. Once you are familiar with the basic protocol, we recommend optimizing the protocol for your feedstock. Process step
Optimization
Feedstock preparation
The basic protocol uses a feedstock that is clarified via a brief centrifugation, and filtration through a 0.45 µm filter. Depending on the feedstock used, it may be possible to remove the filtration step, or even the clarification centrifugation step, and load direct from harvest. Please note that if the filtration or centrifugation steps are removed, the centrifugation duration may need to be extended. The centrifugation speed should not exceed 1,000 x g.
Elution volume
The final sample volume can be reduced by using smaller volumes of elution and wash buffer in the elution step, using a 1:1 ratio of these two buffers. For example, using 1 mL elution buffer and 1 mL wash buffer will result in a final sample volume of 2 mL. The optimal volumes used in the elution step will depend on the lentiviral feedstock used.
Centrifugation temperature
It may be preferable to maintain a stable sample temperature. In this case, the centrifuge temperature should be adapted to match the feedstock sample.
Nereus LentiHERO® PC: NL100100 User Guide-v3
ORDER INFORMATION Code
Description
Pack size
NL100100
Nereus LentiHERO®
2-unit pack
For more information on this or any other supply related matters, please do not hesitate to contact us at sales@astrea-bio.com.
Nereus LentiHERO® PC: NL100100 User Guide-v3
Issue Date: 01 July 2025 This product is subject to Astrea’s standard sales Ts&Cs (accessible at: www.astreabioseparations.com/terms). All trademarks, trade names, trade dress, product names and logos appearing in this brochure are the property of Astrea UK Services Ltd. Copyright © 2025 Astrea Bioseparations Ltd. All rights reserved.