Protein Adsorption onto Modified Porous Silica by Single and Binary Human Serum Protein Solutions

Typical porous silica (SBA-15) has been modified with pore expander agent (1,3,5-trimethylbenzene) and fluoride-species to diminish the length of the channels to obtain materials with different textural properties, varying the Si/Zr molar ratio between 20 and 5. These porous materials were characterized by X-ray Diffraction (XRD), N-2 adsorption/desorption isotherms at -196 degrees C and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), obtaining adsorbent with a surface area between 420-337 m(2) g(-1) and an average pore diameter with a maximum between 20-25 nm. These materials were studied in the adsorption of human blood serum proteins (human serum albumin-HSA and immunoglobulin G-IgG). Generally, the incorporation of small proportions was favorable for proteins adsorption. The adsorption data revealed that the maximum adsorption capacity was reached close to the pI. The batch purification experiments in binary human serum solutions showed that Si sample has considerable adsorption for IgG while HSA adsorption is relatively low, so it is possible its separation.

Automated summary

The study focused on the application of modified porous silica in adsorbing human blood serum proteins, showing that small proportions were favorable for protein adsorption and that the silica sample had considerable adsorption capacity for IgG.