Cibacron blue F3G-A-attached uniform and macroporous poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) particles for specific albumin adsorption

Cibacron blue F3G-A-carrying uniform macroporous particles were proposed as an alternative sorbent for specific albumin adsorption. These particles were produced by a multistep polymerization procedure. In the first step of production, the uniform polystyrene seed particles were prepared by a dispersion polymerization method. Next, the polystyrene seed particles were first swollen by dibutylphthalate and then by styrene-divinylbenzene mixture in an aqueous emulsion medium. In the last step (i.e. repolymerization), styrene-divinylbenzene mixture was copolymerized within the swollen seed particles in the absence or presence of a stabilizer (e.g. poly(vinyl alcohol)). Although a considerable amount of non-specific BSA adsorption was observed an the surface of the particles produced in the absence of PVA, zero non-specific albumin adsorption could be achieved with the uniform macroporous particles produced in the presence of PVA. The stabilizer on the particle surface was also used as a ligand in the further derivatization of macroporous particles for specific albumin adsorption. Cibacron blue F3G-A was then covalently attached onto the surface of uniform macroporous particles. Specific albumin adsorption capacities up to 93 mg g(-1) could be achieved with the cibacron blue F3G-A-carrying macroporous particles of 6.25 mu m in size.