Getting total capsid concentration right is foundational for safe and effective AAV-based therapies.
Adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors are central to many gene therapy platforms — delivering genetic material into patient cells with high specificity and low immunogenicity. But to achieve consistent outcomes, you need to know exactly how much viral material you’re delivering.
That’s where total capsid quantification comes in.
Why titration matters
Gene therapy dosing is typically based on viral genome copies (vg) or total capsid counts (vp). If the capsid concentration is off — too high or too low — it can affect both efficacy and safety. Under-dosing may result in insufficient gene delivery. Over-dosing risks immune activation, toxicity, or manufacturing waste.
In research and development, accurate AAV quantification also helps:
- Monitor upstream production yields
- Optimise downstream purification
- Standardise input across assays or cell-based readouts
- Compare serotype performance
The challenge: Why it’s not straightforward
AAV samples often contain a mix of full and empty capsids, fragmented genomes, and host cell proteins. Many conventional protein assays (like BCA or Bradford) aren’t sensitive or specific enough, and DNA-based methods (like qPCR) don’t capture total capsid content.
This makes it essential to use a method validated for capsid-level detection, not just total protein or genome quantification.
Where Amperia™ fits
The Amperia™ Total Capsid Quantification Kits are designed specifically for measuring AAV capsid protein concentrations — using Redox Electrochemical Detection (RED) to produce a reliable signal from intact capsids.
Key advantages:
✔ Compatible with common serotypes and purification workflows
✔ No need for optical components or secondary antibodies
✔ Supports reproducible workflows with streamlined, software-guided setup
✔ Works with crude or partially purified samples
This enables researchers and process development teams to track capsid titres quickly and confidently — without relying on assumptions or indirect methods.