Synthesis of 2-(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate-based polymers

The crosslinking degree and the porogen significantly affected the textural properties and the protein adsorption capacity of the polymers. Surface areas drastically decreased with increasing monomer/crosslinker ratio, due to the formation of polymeric matrixes that present wider pores, both in the meso and macropore range. Very high BSA retention capacities, up to 170 mg BSA/g, were achieved for the polymers with crosslinker contents of 70-60 mol%. The absence of porogen in the polymerization mixture or the presence of a solvent with low viscosity, favours the formation of narrower pores, which contribute to the surface area but are not accessible to large protein macromolecules.