Quantification and in vitro toxicity studies of extractable chemicals from synthetic ion exchangers

Soluble chemicals extracted from chromatographic media can contaminate pure biological preparations. These contaminants, which may come from the chemical synthesis of the polymers, could have adverse effects as far as their toxicity is concerned. Ion exchangers made using classical acrylic monomers have been investigated for the presence of traces of monomers which are not converted into polymers. In vitro toxicity investigations have also been performed with the same monomers. The obtained data showed that the amount of free residual monomers was below the sensitivity of the analytical methods (HPLC) for both the main monomers (acidic and alkaline) and the acrylic bifunctional monomer. Toxicity trials showed no adverse effects on human cells in culture. Moreover, no polyploidia induction was evidenced in cells cultured in the presence of monomers.