Synthesis of monodisperse nonporous crosslinked poly(glycidyl methacrylate) particles with metal affinity ligands for protein adsorption

Abstract

Abstract Monodisperse nonporous crosslinked poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PGMA) particles with immobilized metal affinity ligands were prepared for selective recovery of proteins. The PGMA particles, with an average size of 2.2 µm, were prepared by a simple dispersion polymerization of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA). The particles were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The epoxy groups of the particles were modified with the metal chelating agent iminodiacetic acid (IDA), which forms metal–IDA chelates at the active sites. After charging with copper ions, the particles were used to recover a model protein, bovine hemoglobin (BHb), in a batchwise manner. The particles had the adsorption capacity of 218.7 mg g −1 with little nonspecific adsorption. The adsorption behavior could be described with the Langmuir equation. The effect of pH on the adsorption was also studied. Regeneration of the metal‐chelated particles was easily performed with 50 mmol L −1 ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), followed by washing with water and reloading with Cu 2+ . The particles could be very useful as an affinity separation adsorbent. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry