Poly(glycidyl methacrylate) beads embedded cryogels for pseudo-specific affinity depletion of albumin and immunoglobulin G

Depletion of high abundant proteins like albumin and immunoglobulin G (IgG) can be beneficial in the analysis of serum proteins. For this purpose, Cibacron Blue F3GA and iminodiacetic acid (IDA)-Cu2+ containing poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PGMA) beads (1.6 mu m in diameter) were embedded into the poly (hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) cryogel. The PGMA beads were prepared by dispersion polymerization. The PGMA beads were modified with Cibacron Blue F3GA and iminodiacetic acid (IDA)-Cu2+ for simultaneous albumin and IgG depletion, respectively. The PHEMA cryogel was synthesized by free radical polymerization in the presence of the modified PGMA beads. The PHEMA and PHEMA/PGMA composite cryogels were characterized by swelling measurements and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Protein depletion studies were carried out in a continuous experimental set-up in a stacked Column. Albumin adsorption capacity of the PGMA-Cibacron Blue F3GA beads embedded PHEMA cryogel (PHEMA/PGMA-Cibacron Blue F3GA) was 342 mg/g and IgG adsorption capacity of the PGMA-IDA-Cu2+ beads embedded PHEMA cryogel (PHEMA/PGMA-IDA-Cu2+) was 257 mg/g. The composite cryogels depleted albumin and IgG from human serum with 89.4% and 93.6% efficiency, respectively. High desorption values (over 90% for both modified cryogels) were achieved with 0.05 M phosphate buffer containing 1.0 M NaCl. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.