Dye functionalized cryogel columns for reversible lysozyme adsorption

In this study, poly (methyl methacrylate-glycidyl methacrylate) [poly(MMA-GMA)] cryogels were prepared by radical cryocopolymerization of MMA with GMA as a functional comonomer. Reactive Green 19 dye was then attached to the cryogel by nucleophilic substitution reaction, and this dye-attached cryogel column was used for lysozyme adsorption. Characterization of the cryogel was performed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, environmental scanning electron microscopy, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller, and energy dispersive X-ray analysis. Pore size of the cryogels was 15-30 mu m and pores were interconnected structure. Attached amount of Reactive Green 19 to cryogel support was calculated as 106.25 mu mol/g cryogel. Lysozyme adsorption studies were carried out by using a continuous system. It was found that the maximum amount of lysozyme adsorption (32 mg/g cryogel) obtained from experimental results was found to be approximately same with the calculated Langmuir adsorption capacity (33 mg/g cryogel). Desorption of adsorbed lysozyme was carried out by using 1.5 M NaCl in pH 4.5 acetate buffer, and desorption yield was found to be 97.4%. Cryogels were very stable, and it was found that there was no remarkable reduction in the adsorption capacity at the end of ten adsorption-desorption cycles. As a result, Reactive Green 19-attached cryogels have great advantages such as easy preparation, rapid adsorption, and desorption, being economic and allowing the direct separation of proteins.