pSIM: A Next Generation In Vitro mRNA Potency Assay

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This preprint studies development and validation of pSIM, a next-generation in vitro mRNA potency assay that uses pulsed stable isotope labeling by amino acids in cell culture (SILAC) with a mass spectrometry readout, incorporating an Internal Dosing Control and co-processing test and reference mRNA–lipid nanoparticles to enable EC50-based or dosing-normalized linear slope metrics. Across monocistronic and multivalent self-amplifying mRNA constructs for influenza and SARS‑CoV‑2, the authors report correlation between in vitro potency and in vivo neutralization in mice and demonstrate stability-indicating performance under heat stress, real-time storage, freeze–thaw, and RNA–lipid adduct formation. They also state the assay was co-qualified for QC implementation and supports phase-appropriate release and stability testing, with the explicit caveat that it is a preprint not yet peer reviewed by a journal. The paper does not explicitly discuss endometriosis or adenomyosis; it was included in the corpus via a keyword match in the upstream search index.

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Abstract

Abstract Potency testing for mRNA–lipid nanoparticle (LNP) vaccines remains challenging due to complex cell-based mechanisms and dependence on strain-specific antibodies. Here, we introduce a next-generation in vitro mRNA potency assay named as pSIM, pulsed stable isotope labeling by amino acids in cell culture (SILAC) Internal Dosing Control (IDC) Mass Spectrometry (MS). The pSIM assay co-processes test and reference LNPs enabling EC50-based or dosing-control–normalized linear slope readouts. We demonstrate applicability across monocistronic and multivalent self-amplifying mRNA constructs for influenza and SARS‑CoV‑2, show a correlation between in vitro potency and in vivo neutralization in mice, and establish stability‑indicating performance under heat stress, real-time storage, freeze–thaw and RNA–lipid adduct formation. The assay was co-qualified for QC implementation and supports phase‑appropriate release and stability testing.
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Here, we introduce a next-generation in vitro mRNA potency assay named as pSIM, pulsed stable isotope labeling by amino acids in cell culture (SILAC) Internal Dosing Control (IDC) Mass Spectrometry (MS). The pSIM assay co-processes test and reference LNPs enabling EC50-based or dosing-control–normalized linear slope readouts. We demonstrate applicability across monocistronic and multivalent self-amplifying mRNA constructs for influenza and SARS‑CoV‑2, show a correlation between in vitro potency and in vivo neutralization in mice, and establish stability‑indicating performance under heat stress, real-time storage, freeze–thaw and RNA–lipid adduct formation. The assay was co-qualified for QC implementation and supports phase‑appropriate release and stability testing. Biological sciences/Biological techniques/Analytical biochemistry Biological sciences/Biochemistry/RNA Full Text Additional Declarations The authors declare no competing interests. Supplementary Files pSIMSupplementalMolecularTherapy02Feb26.pdf pSIM: A Next Generation In Vitro mRNA Potency Assay Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 2 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Show more versions Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. 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