The rapid advancement of mRNA-based vaccines and therapeutics has necessitated development of robust, scalable platforms that can optimise both biological performance and manufacturability. BASE mRNA Facility, a national infrastructure based at The University of Queensland, provides a fully integrated, end-to-end solution for mRNA design, synthesis, formulation, and quality control, supporting the development of translational RNA technologies.
BASE offers both custom mRNA services and a catalogue of off-the-shelf mRNA products, including reporter constructs (eGFP, Luciferase etc) and validated controls, available with or without lipid nanoparticle (LNP) formulation. Fluorescently labelled mRNAs, including Cy5-tagged constructs, are also available to facilitate cellular uptake and localisation studies.
Central to BASE’s offering is mRNArchitect software, an open-source proprietary sequence design tool that improves protein expression through codon optimisation, UTR selection, and structural tuning while maintaining a balance between translational efficiency and ease of manufacturing. mRNAs designed with mRNArchitect have proven to be easy to synthesise, more stable and have lower double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) levels than sequences optimised using other platforms thereby exhibiting higher expression levels while reducing unintended immune system activation.
mRNA synthesis at BASE is achieved via PCR-based generation of templates for in-vitro transcription (IVT) rather than using traditional plasmid linearisation approach. This results in producing high-quality templates with full-length poly(A) tails than plasmid-derived alternatives. Capped mRNAs are produced via IVT and can be formulated into LNPs for in vitro or in vivo delivery.
Each batch undergoes a comprehensive quality control (QC) workflow to ensure reproducibility and performance. QC includes concentration and purity analysis (UV absorbance), and mRNA integrity and length (capillary gel electrophoresis) using sensitive detection methods. LNP-formulated products are further assessed for particle size, surface charge, polydispersity index, and encapsulation efficiency. BASE also offers additional services such as dsRNA detection, endotoxin testing and THP-1 assay to determine immunostimulatory potential of its products.
By combining advanced design tools, low-immunogenicity production methods, scalable manufacturing, and rigorous analytical validation, BASE enables researchers across academia, biotech, and clinical development to accelerate the delivery of next-generation mRNA vaccines and therapeutics at affordable prices.