Refolding of recombinant human interferon gamma inclusion bodies in vitro assisted by colloidal thermo-sensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) brushes grafted onto the surface of uniform polystyrene cores

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Recombinant human interferon gamma (rhIFN-γ) is a protein with great potential for clinical therapy, but rhIFN-γ expressed in Escherichia coli is usually in the form of insoluble inclusion bodies which should be refolded in vitro. A novel type of hairy particles (PNIPAM-grafted-PS) consisted of submicron polystyrene cores and brushes of thermo-sensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) grafted onto the cores was prepared and then applied to assist the refolding of rhIFN-γin vitro. Two kinds of PNIPAM-grafted-PS particles with different thickness of brush layer (55nm and 110nm) were synthesized, which were spherical shape with good dispersion properties and the LCST was about 33°C. The effect of thickness of brush layer, particle concentration and temperature on the refolding process was investigated, it was shown that particles with larger thickness of brush layer were more effective and the final rhIFN-γ activity could be up to more than 21 times of that in dilution refolding when initial rhIFN-γ concentration was 50μg/mL. The optimal refolding condition was the concentration ratio of particle to rhIFN-γ 1:1 and refolding temperature of 15°C. All results above demonstrated that PNIPAM-grafted-PS particles could assist rhIFN-γ refolding which presented an alternative way to facilitate recombinant protein refolding in vitro.