Binding of hepatitis virus particles to immobilised procion blue-HB and cibacron blue 3GA

Two chemically similar triazine dyes, coupled to chromatographic gels, have been investigated for their ability to bind and retain hepatitis B surface antigen marker of the hepatitis B virus. Both dyes, Procion Blue-HB and Cibacron Blue 3GA, were effective in removing viral particles from plasma protein solutions. A number of combinations of dye and gel support have been tried, to obtain optimal binding. A Cibacron Blue-Trisacryl adsorbent achieved almost complete retention (greater than 99.5%) of HBsAg before breakthrough occurred. Binding was better at reduced flow rates and on large pore gel matrices, suggesting that steric restrictions limit the interaction. The interaction is directly between immobilised dye and the viral particle, rather than through plasma albumin, which also binds to these affinity adsorbents. These findings are important in the use of immobilised triazine dyes for plasma protein purification. Furthermore, the interaction may be utilised either for the removal of HB viral particles from plasma or as a rapid method of their purification.