Characterization of partitioning behaviors of immunoglobulin G in polymer-salt aqueous two-phase systems

Microscopic evaluation of aqueous two-phase system emulsion characteristics enables rapid determination of critical polymer concentrations for solution micropatterning

Aqueous two-phase systems have emerged as valuable tools for microscale analysis of cell growth and many other biotechnology applications. The most critical step in developing an aqueous two-phase system for a specific application is identifying the critical concentrations at which the polymer solutions phase-separate. Current techniques for determining these critical concentrations rely on laborious methods, highly specialized assays or computational methods that make this step difficult for non-specialists. To overcome these limitations, we present a simplified assay that uses only readily accessible laboratory instruments and consumables (e.g., multichannel micropipettes, 96-well plates and a simple compound microscope) to determine the critical concentrations of aqueous two-phase system-forming polymers. We demonstrate that formulations selected from phase diagrams that describe these critical concentrations can be applied for solution micropatterning of cells.

Separation of immunoglobulin G using aqueous biphasic systems composed of cholinium-based ionic liquids and poly(propylene glycol)

BACKGROUND

The use of antibodies, such as immunoglobulin G (IgG), has faced a significant growth in the past decades for biomedical and research purposes. However, antibodies are high cost biopharmaceuticals, for which the development of alternative and cost-effective purification strategies is still in high demand.

RESULTS

Aqueous biphasic systems (ABS) composed of poly(propylene glycol) (PPG) and cholinium-based ionic liquids (ILs) were investigated for the separation of IgG. The ABS phase diagrams were determined and characterized whenever required. Initial optimization studies with commercial IgG were carried out, followed by the extraction of IgG from rabbit serum. In all ABS, IgG preferentially partitions to the IL-rich phase, unveiling preferential interactions between IgG and ILs. Good results were obtained with commercial IgG, with extraction efficiencies ranging between 93% and 100%, and recovery yields ranging between 20% and 100%. Two of the best and two of the worst identified ABS were then evaluated in what concerns their performance to separate and recover IgG from rabbit serum. With these ABS, extraction efficiencies of 100% and recovery yields > 80% were obtained, indicating an increase in the recovery yield and extraction efficiencies when using real matrices. Under the best conditions studied, IgG with a purity level of 49% was obtained in a single-step. This purity level of IgG is higher than those previously reported using other IL-polymer ABS.

CONCLUSION

IgG preferentially migrates to the IL-rich phase in ABS formed by ILs and polymers, allowing the design of effective separation systems for its recovery from serum samples.

Cloud-point extraction of green-polymers from Cupriavidus necator lysate using thermoseparating-based aqueous two-phase extraction

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), a class of renewable and biodegradable green polymers, have gained attraction as a potential substitute for the conventional plastics due to the increasing concern towards environmental pollution as well as the rapidly depleting petroleum reserve. Nevertheless, the high cost of downstream processing of PHA has been a bottleneck for the wide adoption of PHAs. Among the options of PHAs recovery techniques, aqueous two-phase extraction (ATPE) outshines the others by having the advantages of providing a mild environment for bioseparation, being green and non-toxic, the capability to handle a large operating volume and easily scaled-up. Utilizing unique properties of thermo-responsive polymer which has decreasing solubility in its aqueous solution as the temperature rises, cloud point extraction (CPE) is an ATPE technique that allows its phase-forming component to be recycled and reused. A thorough literature review has shown that this is the first time isolation and recovery of PHAs from Cupriavidus necator H16 via CPE was reported. The optimum condition for PHAs extraction (recovery yield of 94.8% and purification factor of 1.42 fold) was achieved under the conditions of 20 wt/wt % ethylene oxide-propylene oxide (EOPO) with molecular weight of 3900 g/mol and 10 mM of sodium chloride addition at thermoseparating temperature of 60°C with crude feedstock limit of 37.5 wt/wt %. Recycling and reutilization of EOPO 3900 can be done at least twice with satisfying yield and PF. CPE has been demonstrated as an effective technique for the extraction of PHAs from microbial crude culture.