Protein adsorption in supermacroporous cryogels with embedded nanoparticles

Supermacroporous cryogel with embedded nano-size adsorbent particles is a new media suggested for separation and purification of biomolecules. In order to reveal the protein adsorption characteristics in this novel cryogel, several polyacrylamide-based cryogel beds with embedded Fe3O4 nanoparticles were prepared by radical cryo-copolymerization of acrylamide, N,N′-methylene-bis-acrylamide, allyl glycidyl ether and surfactant-stabilized Fe3O4 nanoparticles under freezing variation conditions in glass columns of inner diameters 16 and 26 mm. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) was used as model protein to study the cryogel adsorption behaviors in the cryogels. Experimental measurements of the isothermal and kinetics adsorption of BSA were carried out and the protein adsorption capacities were determined. Breakthrough curves of BSA in NaAc–HAc buffer at different liquid flow rates were obtained to reveal the protein adsorption behaviors. Effect of liquid velocity, as well as the pore-structures and liquid dispersion on the protein breakthrough performance were investigated and analyzed.