Development of a Microfluidic Platform for R-Phycoerythrin Purification Using an Aqueous Micellar Two-Phase System

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry and Biophysical Chemistry
• Chemical Engineering
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Temperature-dependent aqueous micellar two-phase systems (AMTPSs) show promise for isolating high-value biomolecules.
• Wider industrial application of AMTPSs is hindered by a lack of process integration and continuous manufacturing methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and demonstrate an integrated microfluidic platform for the rapid, low-material development of continuous protein purification using AMTPSs.
• To purify R-phycoerythrin from *Gracilaria gracilis* using the developed microfluidic system.

Main Methods:

• An integrated microfluidic platform combining a temperature-controlled microchannel for AMTPS formation and a microsettler for phase separation.
• Purification of R-phycoerythrin from crude algal extract.
• Integration of a miniaturized ultrafiltration module for surfactant removal and protein concentration.

Main Results:

• Achieved efficient separation and purification of R-phycoerythrin.
• Reduced processing time by over 20-fold compared to conventional batch processes.
• Completely removed surfactant and nearly doubled the R-phycoerythrin concentration using integrated ultrafiltration.

Conclusions:

• The developed microfluidic platform enables fast, low-material, and continuous protein purification using AMTPSs.
• Process intensification and downstream integration in a microfluidic system significantly enhance purification efficiency.
• The technology holds potential for scaling up to meso-scale for industrial purification of high-value biomolecules.