Required characteristics of solid matrix support

If bioaffinity chromatography is to be successfully applied, a matrix should possess the following properties [23] (a) insolubility (b) zero adsorption capacity (c) 

Complete insolubility is important, not only to prevent losses of the affinity adsorbent, but mainly to prevent the contamination of the substance being isolated by a dissolved carrier. 

The solid support should have minimum non-specific adsorption. The affinity ligand must be attached to the solid support in the form of covalently bound molecules only, and the molecules of the affinant that are not attached covalently must be washed out. This is difficult with supports that strongly adsorb the affinant molecules. Non-specific adsorption also results in the contamination of the substances to be isolated with inert proteins, or in difficulties with the desorption due to the multiple bonds. This is one of the main reasons why carriers that contain ionogenic or strong hydrophobic groups have never been as widely applied as neutral and hydrophilic agarose. 

Amounts of chymotrypsin and glycine bound to hydroxyalkyl methaciylate gels (Spherons) as a function of their specific surface areas 

Gel Exclusion mol. wt. Specific surface area (mVml) Amount of bound glycine (mg/ml) Amount of bound chymotrypsin (mg/ml) Relative proteolytic activity (%) 

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