Affinity membrane chromatography applications

Proteins are frequently powerful immunogens and the availability of specific antibodies, particularly monoclonal antibodies, makes the technique of affinity chromatography very useful in the separation and purification of individual proteins. The technique has been used to purify a wide range of proteins such as hormones, membrane receptors and complement proteins. However, it is not restricted to proteins and is potentially applicable to any immunogenic substance. The availability of suitable antibodies is essential and these may be raised by whole animal polyclonal techniques or by monoclonal cell culture. The former antibodies may need some prior purification before being immobilized. 

Porous supports like agarose, pol3mrethacrylate, or silica beads are generally used in current applications of affinity chromatography. However, in the past several years other types of supports have also become available commercially. Many of these newer materials have properties that give them superior performance in certain applications. Materials that fall in this category include nonporous supports, membranes, flow-through beads, continuous beds and expanded-bed particles. 

In principle any binding protein or receptor site or membrane fragment containing a receptor site can be purified by the use of an affinity medium containing the moiety with which the protein or receptor interacts. The extensive bibliography rapidly building up in this area of application indicates that, as with most other applications in affinity chromatography, the principle appears to be valid. 

Kimura K, Tanaka I, Nishimura S-1, Miyoshi R, Miyoshi T, Watanabe Y. Further examination of polysaccharides causing membrane fouling in membrane bioreactors (MBRs) application of lectin affinity chromatography and MALDl-TOF/MS. Water Res 2012 46 5725-5734. 

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