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Evaluating Nanoparticle Hydrophobicity Using Analytical Membrane Hydrophobic Interaction Chromatography
Neil Taylor1, Wanli Ma2, Adam Kristopeit2
1Department of Chemical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States.
Analytical Chemistry
|June 8, 2022
Summary
This study introduces membrane hydrophobic interaction chromatography (MHIC) to measure nanoparticle hydrophobicity. This new method accurately assesses larger nanoparticles and viruses for applications in drug delivery and gene therapy.
Area of Science:
- Analytical Chemistry
- Materials Science
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Nanoparticle hydrophobicity is crucial for stability, adhesion, and transport in suspensions.
- Existing methods struggle with larger nanoparticles and viruses (>100 nm), vital for drug delivery and gene therapy.
- A need exists for a versatile method to quantify hydrophobicity in diverse nanoparticle systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a novel membrane hydrophobic interaction chromatography (MHIC) method for assessing nanoparticle hydrophobicity.
- To evaluate the applicability of MHIC for both model proteins and complex nanoparticles, including viruses.
- To demonstrate the method's utility in various conditions, such as in water and with surfactants.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a polyvinylidene fluoride membrane (5.0 μm pore size) as the stationary phase in a membrane hydrophobic interaction chromatography (MHIC) setup.
- Validated the method using a series of model proteins, comparing results with established hydrophobicity data.
- Applied MHIC to assess the hydrophobicity of diverse nanoparticles, including a live attenuated viral vaccine, in different media.
Main Results:
- Experimental data for model proteins showed strong agreement with literature values for hydrophobicity.
- MHIC successfully quantified the hydrophobicity of various nanoparticles, including a viral vaccine.
- The method proved effective in both aqueous solutions and in the presence of different surfactants.
Conclusions:
- Membrane hydrophobic interaction chromatography (MHIC) offers a reliable and accessible approach for evaluating nanoparticle hydrophobicity.
- The developed MHIC method is suitable for large nanoparticles and viruses, addressing limitations of previous techniques.
- This technique is compatible with standard liquid chromatography systems, offers rapid analysis (<20 min), and avoids organic solvents, preserving biological nanoparticle integrity.
