Dye-ligand column chromatography: Albumin adsorption from aqueous media and human plasma with dye-affinity microbeads

Abstract

Cibacron Blue F3GA was covalently coupled with poly(ethylene glycoldimethacrylate-2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate) [poly(EGDMA-HEMA)] microbeads via the nucleophilic substitution reaction between the chloride of its triazine ring and the hydroxyl groups of the HEMA molecules under alkaline conditions. The affinity sorbent carrying 16.5 μmol Cibacron Blue F3GA/g polymer was then used for bovine serum albumin (BSA) adsorption from aqueous protein solutions and from human plasma in a packed-bed column. The BSA adsorption capacity of the microbeads decreased with an increase in the recirculation rate. High adsorption rates were observed at the beginning, then equilibrium was gradually achieved in about 60 min. The BSA concentration in the mobile phase was also effective on adsorption. BSA adsorption was first increased with BSA concentration, then reached a plateau that was about 57.3 mg BSA/g. Higher BSA adsorption was observed at lower ionic strength. The maximum adsorption was observed at pH 5.0, which is the isoelectric pH of BSA. Higher human serum albumin adsorption was achieved from human plasma (109.6 mg HSA/g). High desorption ratios (over 94% of the adsorbed albumin) were achieved by using 1.0M NaSCN (pH 8.0) in 30 min. It was observed that albumin could be repeatedly adsorbed and desorbed without a significant loss in adsorption capacity.