Chapter 5 - Ion-exchange separations of biomacromolecules on grafted and surface-modified polymers

Abstract

To increase the productivity of downstream processing has long been a key issue for the industrial-scale production of biological products. Ion-exchange chromatography (IEC) based on stationary phases with polymeric ion-exchange groups exhibited the greatly enhanced binding capacity for biomacromolecules over the traditional stationary phases, and thus provided a competitive strategy to increase productivity. This chapter presents a comprehensive review of the technological and theoretical development of ion exchangers with grafted and surface-modified polymers. Firstly, the design and fabrication of different types of stationary phases with polymeric ion-exchange groups are summarized, and the typical commercial stationary phases are introduced. Then, the mechanisms of their both enhanced adsorption capacity and uptake kinetics are discussed. Finally, their application of laboratory-level and industrial-level cases on the separations of biomacromolecules are also presented, with highlighting their advantages, including higher productivity on stationary phase and flexible operability on mobile phase, as well as their challenges and coping strategies, proving their potential in industrial-scale downstream processing.