p(HEMA)-RR241 hydrogel membranes with micron network for IgG depletion in proteomic studies

Serum proteins can generally be considered a good source for the illness' indication and are precious resources to detect diseases such as inflammation, cancer, diabetes, malnutrition, cardiovascular diseases, Alzheimer's, other autoimmune diseases, and infections. However, one of the biggest difficulties for proteomic studies is that the majority of serum protein mass consists of only a few proteins. Albumin and Immunoglobulin (IgG) constitute 80% of total serum protein. In this study, dye ligand affinity-based hydrogel membranes were proposed as new materials with micron mesh structures. Micron mesh p(HEMA) hydrogel membranes were synthesized by using the UV-photopolymerization method, then modified with Reactive Red 241 (RR241) dye ligand to increase the affinity towards IgG. Characterizations of synthesized micron mesh p(HEMA)-RR241 hydrogel membranes were also performed. It was demonstrated by the characterization studies that; the dye was successfully incorporated into the membrane structure with the amount of 119.38 mg/g. The hydrophilic property of the hydrogel membrane was demonstrated by swelling tests and the swelling value of dye modified membrane was found to be 8 times higher than that of the plain membrane. Micron network structure, as well as the porosity, were demonstrated with SEM/ESEM studies. Optimization of IgG adsorption conditions was also studied at different parameters (pH, temperature, ion strength, initial IgG concentration). Optimum pH, temperature, and ionic strength were found to be 6.5, 25 °C, 0.05 M, respectively, and the maximum IgG absorption value was 10.27 mg/g. Finally, it was shown that the proposed materials can be used repeatedly by 5 adsorption-desorption cycles.