Synthesis of Strong Cation Exchange Macroporous Polymer Cluster for Convective Protein Chromatography

Abstract

Alkyne‐terminated polyelectrolytic brushes based on 3‐sulfopropyl methacrylate are synthesized by reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer polymerization and subsequently linked to macroporous polymeric microclusters by Cu(I)‐catalyzed azide alkyne cycloaddition. It is shown that a column packed with the obtained material enables convective cation‐exchange chromatography of proteins, exhibiting flow rate independent resolution and dynamic binding capacity (8 mg mL−1). These flow characteristics are similar to those of monoliths and membranes and therefore improve the mass transport of existing chromatography resins used in the downstream process of therapeutic proteins, while the positive aspects of chromatographic beads are maintained, facilitating implementation in well‐developed platform technologies.

Contribution of the “Click Chemistry” Toolbox for the Design, Synthesis, and Resulting Applications of Innovative and Efficient Separative Supports: Time for Assessment

“…In a recent study, polyelectrolytic brushes were prepared by reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) polymerization of 3-sulfopropyl methacrylate from an alkyne bearing RAFT transfer agent in the presence of 4,4'-azobis(4-cyanovaleric acid)(ACVA) as the radical initiator, as shown on Figure 23. [140,141] In parallel, polymeric beads were produced from the emulsion polymerization of vinyl benzyl azide (VBA) and DVB. The resulting polyelectrolytic brushes were bound to the beads by CuAAC coupling either in bulk or in a flow-through process.…”

“…Synthetic pathway adopted for the preparation and grafting of polyelectrolyte polymer brushes at the surface of poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzeneco-vinylbenzyl azide) (P(Sty-co-DVB-co-VBA)) particles meant for chromatographic purposes. Reproduced with permission [140]. Copyright 2019, Wiley-VCH.…”