Molecularly imprinted poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate) based cryogel for albumin depletion from human serum

•A newly synthesized functional monomer of MAPA was used for imprinting of HSA in precomplexation process.•HSA imprinted PHEMA based cryogel was prepared to selectively removal of HSA out of human serum.•HSA imprinted cryogel was optimized for using in the FPLC system.•The efficiency of HSA depletion was illustrated in SDS-PAGE.

Macroporous cryogels imprinted with human serum albumin (HSA) have been prepared by copolymerization of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate with a functional co-monomer of N-methacryloyl-l-phenylalanine. The cryogels were used for the depletion of HSA from human serum. HSA-imprinted cryogels were prepared with gel fraction yields up to 90%, and their chemical structure, morphology and porosity were characterized by FTIR-spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, swelling studies and flow dynamics. Selective binding experiments were performed in the presence of competitive proteins like human transferrin and myoglobin. Albumin-imprinted cryogel column was optimized for fast protein liquid chromatography. Sodium-dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was used to show the efficiency of albumin depletion.

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