Selective binding and magnetic separation of histidine-tagged proteins using Fe3O4/Cu-apatite nanoparticles

• Fe3O4@Cu-apatite nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized by hydrothermal method.
• Fe3O4@Cu-apatite NPs can be used to separate His-tagged proteins.
• Fe3O4@Cu-apatite NPs present high protein binding ability.
• Fe3O4@Cu-apatite NPs exhibit low cytotoxicity.

Hierarchical Fe3O4@Cu-apatite nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized via a facile hydrothermal method. The Fe3O4 cores present spherical shape and have a mean diameter of 300 nm, and the Cu-apatite shell with thickness of about 50 nm is composed of a large number of sheets. Using the high affinity of Cu2 + on the surface toward histidine tags, the Fe3O4@Cu-apatite NPs can be applied to enrich and magnetically separate histidine tagged (His-tagged) proteins directly from the mixture of lysed cells. Research results indicated that the Fe3O4@Cu-apatite NPs presented negligible nonspecific protein adsorption and high protein binding ability.

Fe3O4@Cu-apatite nanoparticles can be used to magnetically separate His-tagged proteins.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide