Selective displacement chromatography in multimodal cation exchange systems

A library of displacer analogues with varying degrees of electrostatic, hydrophobic and hydrogen bonding moieties was evaluated for their ability to enhance the selectivity of multimodal (MM) chromatography under high loading conditions. The library was screened for displacement of model proteins using a robotic liquid handling system and selective batch separations were achieved for proteins that were inseparable with linear gradient chromatography. Trends in protein displacement were identified and displacers with higher hydrophobicity and net charge exhibited improved protein displacements. Proteins that interacted with the resins primarily via electrostatic interactions were more readily displaced than those that possessed a significant hydrophobic contribution to their binding. In addition, multimodal displacers were found to be more selective than single mode electrostatic displacers. Column chromatography studies were also carried out and baseline separations were achieved for model protein pairs using selective displacement. Finally, operation of these columns in the desorption mode resulted in baseline separation of model proteins which were not separable by selective displacement chromatography. This study indicates that the inherent selectivity of MM resins can be augmented by the selectivity of the displacer under non-linear competitive binding conditions, creating new opportunities for protein separations not possible using traditional gradient operations.     

Salt effects in anion exchange displacement chromatography: Comparison of pentosan polysulfate and dextran sulfate displacers

Summary Experimental studies were carried out to investigate the utility of pentosan polysulfate as a low molecular weight polyelectrolyte displacer for the purification of proteins in anion-exchange displacement systems. In addition, the influence of mobile phase salt concentration on displacer efficacy, protein-protein resolution, and displacement development were studied for several anionic displacers. It was found that while large polyelectrolytes (50 kd dextran sulfate) were efficient displacers for a wide range of salt concentrations, relatively small polyelectrolytes (3 kd pentosan polysulfate) were seen to act as an efficient displacer only under conditions of high salt micro-environments. In addition, for proteins exhibiting similar affinities, zone mixing at the protein-protein boundary was found to be quite sensitive to the salt concentration. Finally, displacement chromatography was successfully implemented for the separation of proteins from milk whey.     

The effect of multi-component adsorption on selectivity in ion exchange displacement systems

This paper examines chemically selective displacement chromatography using affinity ranking plots, batch displacer screening experiments, column displacements, multi-component adsorption isotherms and spectroscopy. The affinity ranking plot indicated that the displacers, sucrose octasulfate (SOS) and tatrazine, should possess sufficient affinity to displace the proteins amyloglucosidase and apoferritin over a wide range of operating conditions. In addition, the plots indicated that the separation of these proteins by displacement chromatography would be extremely difficult. Further, the two proteins were shown to have very similar retention times under shallow linear gradient conditions. When batch displacement experiments were carried out, both tartrazine and SOS exhibited significant selectivity differences with respect to their ability to displace these two proteins, in contrast to the affinity ranking plot results. Column displacement experiments carried out with sucrose octasulfate agreed with the predictions of the affinity ranking plots, with both proteins being displaced but poorly resolved under several column displacement conditions. On the other hand, column displacement with tartrazine as the displacer resulted in the selective displacement and partial purification of apoferritin. Single- and multi-component isotherms of the proteins with or without the presence of displacers were determined and were used to help explain the selectivity reversals observed in the column and batch displacement experiments. In addition, fluorescence and CD spectra suggested that the displacers did not induce any structural changes to either of the proteins. The results in this paper indicate that multi-component adsorption behavior can be exploited for creating chemically selective displacement separations.     

Displacement Chromatography of Proteins using Low Molecular Weight Anionic Displacers

A major impediment to the implementation of displacement chromatography has been the lack of suitable displacer compounds. Recently, it has been shown that low molecular weight dendritic polymers, protected amino acids and antibiotics can be successfully employed for displacement purification in cation-exchange systems. In this paper, a variety of low molecular weight anionic displacers are identified for the resolution of a bovine -lactoglobulin mixture into two closely related forms (A and B). A Dynamic Affinity plot is employed to evaluate the affinity of these low molecular weight compounds under various displacement conditions. In contrast to large polyelectrolyte displacers, the efficacy of these low molecular weight displacers are shown to be dependent on displacer concentration. In fact, the Dynamic Affinity Plot qualitatively predicts the transition from a displacement to a desorption regime with these low molecular weight displacers. In addition to the fundamental interest generated by low molecular weight displacers, it is likely that these displacers will have significant operational advantages as compared to large polyelectrolyte displacers. Furthermore, the ability to carry out selective displacement chromatography with these low molecular weight displacers offers significant potential for developing robust large scale displacement processes.     

Unique selectivity windows using selective displacers/eluents and mobile phase modifiers on hydroxyapatite

A detailed study was carried out to combine the unique selectivity of ceramic hydroxyapatite (CHA) with the separation power of selective displacement chromatography. A robotic liquid handling system was employed to carry out a parallel batch screen on a displacer library made up of analogous compounds. By incorporating positively charged, metal chelating and/or hydrogen bonding groups into the design of the displacer, specific interaction sites on CHA were targeted, thus augmenting the selectivity of the separation. The effect of different mobile phase modifiers, such as phosphate, sulfate, lactate and borate, were also investigated. Important functional group moieties and trends for the design of CHA displacers were established. Selective batch separations were achieved between multiple protein pairs which were unable to be resolved using linear gradient techniques, demonstrating the applicability of this technique to multiple protein systems. The specific interaction moieties used on the selective displacer were found to dictate which protein was selectively displaced in the separation, a degree of control not possible using a mono-interaction type resin in displacement chromatography. Mobile phase modifiers were also shown to play a crucial role, augmenting the selectivity of a displacer in a synergistic fashion. Column separations were carried out using selective displacers and mobile phase modifiers identified in the batch experiments, and baseline separation of the previously unresolved protein pairs was achieved. Further, the elution order in these systems was able to be reversed while still maintaining baseline separations. This work establishes a new class of separations which combine the selectivities of multi-modal resins, displacers/eluents, and mobile phase modifiers to create unique selectivity windows unattainable using traditional modes of operation.     

Characterization of non-linear adsorption properties of dextran-based polyelectrolyte displacers in ion-exchange systems

Experimental studies were carried out on the non-linear adsorption properties of dextran-based polyelectrolytes in anion- and cation-exchange chromatographic systems. By monitoring both the induced salt gradients and sequential breakthrough fronts, parameters were determined for use in a Steric Mass Action (SMA) model of non-linear ion-exchange chromatography. These parameters include: total ion capacity of the columns, characteristic charge, steric factor, equilibrium constant, and maximum adsorptive capacity for each of the polyelectrolytes. In addition the number of functional groups were determined by elemental analysis. The values of the SMA parameters were found to be independent of salt and polyelectrolyte bulk phase compositions. Parameters were also determined for a variety of proteins. Experimental isotherms for the polyelectrolytes and proteins were compared with those simulated by the SMA model. Finally, the implications of polyelectrolyte adsorption properties with respect to their ability to act as efficient displacers in ion-exchange displacement systems are discussed.     

Displacement chromatography of proteins on hydrophobic charge induction adsorbent column

Displacement chromatography of protein mixtures is proposed on hydrophobic charge induction chromatography (HCIC). We have used an HCIC medium, MEP-Hypercel as the stationary phase and a quaternary ammonium salt, benzethonium chloride, as the displacer. It was found that the multiple interactions between proteins/displacer and the HCIC sorbent, i.e. hydrophobic interaction and charge repulsion, enabled a greater flexibility for the design of displacement processes and ease of column regeneration by adjustment of pH. The capacity factors of proteins and displacers were used to predict their performances in column displacement, and the experimental results agreed well with the prediction. An isotachic displacement train of lysozyme and alpha-chymotrypsinogen A was formed with benzethonium chloride as the displacer at pH 5.0 with good yields and purities of the two proteins. Column regeneration was efficiently achieved by charge repulsion between the displacer and the adsorbent at lower pH values (pH 3 and 4). The results indicate that the displacement chromatography on HCIC is a good alternative to traditional hydrophobic displacement chromatography.     

Thermosensitive copolymers of N-vinylimidazole as displacers of proteins in immobilised metal affinity chromatography

Synthetic copolymers of N-vinylcaprolactam (VCL) and N-vinylimidazole (VI) were studied as thermosensitive, reusable displacers for immobilised metal affinity chromatography (IMAC) of proteins. The copolymer with weight-average molecular mass of 11700 g/mol prepared by free radical polymerisation at a 9:1 monomer molar ratio was separated into several fractions by IMAC and thermal precipitation. The fraction with an average VI content of 8.5% was most efficient as a reusable displacer for IMAC of ovalbumin, lysozyme and other proteins of egg white on Cu2+-IDA-Sepharose. The displacer exhibited a sharp breakthrough curve and binding capacity of 16-20 mg/ml gel, depending on the flow-rate. The recovery of egg white proteins in the course of displacement chromatography was >95%. The displacer could be removed quantitatively from the protein fractions by thermal precipitation at 48 degrees C. Co-precipitation of lysozyme with the displacer was minimal in the presence of 3% (v/v) acetonitrile, while the lysozyme enzymatic activity in the supernatant was completely retained. Addition of free imidazole to the mobile phase increased the rate of protein desorption and allowed better separation of egg white proteins and the displacer in the course of chromatography. The displacement profile of the egg white extract consisted of three zones with different distributions of individual proteins characterised by SDS-PAGE. Regeneration of the column was easily performed with 0.02 M EDTA in 0.15 M sodium chloride, pH 8.0, followed by washing with distilled water and reloading with Cu2+. The displacer could also be regenerated by thermal precipitation at 48 degrees C and subsequent dialysis against dilute hydrochloric acid (pH 2.5).     

Displacement chromatography of biomolecules

Displacement chromatography was used for the preparative-scale separation of peptides, antibiotics, and proteins. The feed components were both purified and concentrated during the separation processes. The components of a peptide mixture were separated on a reverse-phase analytical column using 2-(2-butoxyethoxy) ethanol as the displacer. The use of organic modifiers in the carrier along with an elevated column temperature of 45 degrees C enabled the efficient separation of relatively hydrophobic peptides by displacement chromatography. In addition, the throughput of the process was significantly increased by carrying out the separation at an elevated flow-rate with no adverse effect on product purity. The antibiotic cephalosporin C was isolated from impurities in a fermentation broth using 2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethanol as the displacer along with a step change in column temperature. The proteins cytochrome c and lysozyme were purified on a weak cation-exchanger column using cationic polymers as the displacers. While polymers of 60 and 20 kilodaltons were both found to be good displacers for these proteins, only the lower molecular weight polymer was readily removed from the column by standard regeneration techniques.     

The effect of feed composition on the behavior of chemically selective displacement systems

In this paper we examine whether adding a more retained protein to the feed will mitigate displacer–protein interactions in the column, thus affecting the displacement modality that occurs (chemically selective vs. traditional displacement chromatography). STD-NMR experiments were carried out to probe displacer–protein interactions for the chemically selective displacer chloroquine diphosphate and the results indicated that this displacer only had measurable interactions with the protein α-chymotrypsinogen A. For a two component feed mixture containing ribonuclease A and α-chymotrypsinogen A, the separation resulted in the displacement of ribonuclease A, with the more hydrophobic α-chymotrypsinogen A remaining on the column. On the other hand, when the experiment was repeated with cytochrome c added to the feed, all three feed proteins were displaced. Column simulations indicated that the combination of sample self-displacement occurring during the introduction of the feed, along with the dynamics of the initial displacement process at the column inlet was responsible for this behavior. These results indicate that for this class of hydrophobic-based selective displacers, in order for the protein to be selectively retained, the protein should be the most strongly retained feed component.     

An affinity-based strategy for the design of selective displacers for the chromatographic separation of proteins

We describe an affinity-based strategy for designing selective protein displacers for the chromatographic purification of proteins. To design a displacer that is selective for a target protein, we attached a component with affinity for the target protein to a resin-binding component; we then tested the ability of such displacers to selectively retain the target protein on a resin relative to another protein having a similar retention time. In particular, we synthesized displacers based on biotin, which selectively retained avidin as compared to aprotinin on SP Sepharose high performance resin. In addition, we have extended this approach to develop an affinity-peptide-based displacer that discriminates between lysozyme and cytochrome c. Here, a selective displacer was designed from a lysozyme-binding peptide that had been identified and optimized previously using phage-display technology. Our results suggest a general strategy for designing highly selective affinity-based displacers by identifying molecules (e.g., peptides) that bind to a protein of interest and using an appropriate linker to attach these molecules to a moiety that binds to the stationary phase.     

褐藻酸有限水解物作为置换剂在微异质性蛋白质置换层析中的应用

采用常规的实验仪器和通常使用的ＤＥＡＥ－纤维素５２作为层析介质,以褐藻酸有限水解物作为置换剂,对微异质性的电泳纯牛血清白蛋白进行了子交换置换层析分离。结果表明,所有７种褐藻酸水解物都能使牛血清白蛋白的洗脱曲线呈现多个洗脱峰,其中２５ｋＤａ,１５ｋＤａ,１１．５ｋＤａ和未经分离的褐藻酸水解物有更好的分离效果。     

Mass influences in the performance of oligomeric poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) as displacer for cation-exchange displacement chromatography of proteins

A novel type of linear polyelectrolyte, namely poly-DADMAC [poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride)], was prepared and studied as a displacer for cation-exchange displacement chromatography of proteins. In contrast to the commercially available polymers of that chemistry, the novel type of poly-DADMAC introduced here is characterized by a homogeneous linear structure, a narrow distribution of the (adjustable) molar mass as well as by a defined and homogeneous affinity for the stationary phase. Five poly-DADMACs of different size (17900 to 88000 g/mol) were prepared and compared with regard to their stationary phase affinity and protein separation potential, taking a mixture of basic proteins, namely lysozyme, cytochrome C, and ribonuclease A (from bovine pancreas), as an example. The steric mass action model was employed to aid method development. Under the chosen conditions (low ionic strength of the mobile phase guaranteeing strong binding of both the proteins and the displacer) the poly-DADMAC with the lowest molar masses proved to be the most efficient displacers for the basic proteins with a stationary phase affinity constant of 5.3 x 10(16) and a steric factor of 224. Using this substance as displacer, a sample mixture containing up to three proteins was separated and the proteins recovered at high yields (80-97%) and in high purity and concentration.     

Displacer concentration effects in displacement chromatography: Implications for trace solute detection

In this paper, the utility of ion-exchange displacement chromatography for the concentration and enrichment of trace proteins is examined. Separations with varying displacer concentrations (1–25 mM neomycin sulfate) indicate that higher concentrations result in elevated protein concentrations, at the price of reduced yields. The results demonstrate that displacement chromatography carried out at relatively low displacer concentrations (2.5 mM) can produce significant concentration (8.5-fold) and enrichment (18-fold) of trace proteins present in the feed. Parametric simulations using the steric mass action model are carried out to investigate the concentration effects and enrichment factors observed over a wide range of feed, displacer and buffer counter-ion concentrations, and solute separation factors. The simulations confirm that trace components can be readily concentrated and enriched by displacement chromatography and that these effects will be more pronounced as the separation factor between trace and abundant components is increased. The results presented in this paper indicate the potential of displacement chromatography for improved separations where trace enrichment is critical such as proteomic applications.     

Displacement of adsorbed functionalized polystyrene-block-butadiene copolymers by small molecules

This work deals with the displacement of end-anchored copolymers by the addition of solvent displacer. The adsorption behavior of functionalized polystyrene-block-polybutadiene diblock copolymers from dilute solution in toluene using silicon wafers as solid substrates is investigated by means of null-ellipsometry. The desorption phenomena are observed by adding displacers of low molecular weight to the mixture. The displacers used are tetrahydrofuran (THF) and acetone. The critical composition of the binary solvent mixture at which the desorption is complete, is determined experimentally.     

Investigation of particle-based and monolithic columns for cation exchange protein displacement chromatography using poly(diallyl-dimethylammonium chloride) as displacer

The overall topic of the investigation was the separation of basic proteins by cation exchange displacement chromatography. For this purpose two principal column morphologies were compared for the separation of ribonuclease A and alpha-chymotrypsinogen, two proteins found in the bovine pancreas. These were a column packed with porous particles (Macro-Prep S, 10 microm, 1000 A) and a monolithic column (UNO S1). Both columns are strong cation exchangers, carrying -SO3(-)-groups linked to a hydrophilic polymer support. Poly(diallyl-dimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC), a linear cationic polyelectrolyte composed of 100-200 quaternary pyrrolidinium rings, was used as displacer. The steric mass action (SMA) model and, in particular, the operating regime and dynamic affinity plots were used to aid method development. To date the SMA model has been applied primarily to simulate non-linear displacement chromatography of proteins using low molar mass displacers. Here, the model is applied to polyelectrolytes with a molar mass below 20000 g mol(-1), which corresponds to a degree of polymerization below 125 and an average contour length of less than 60 nm. The columns were characterized in terms of the adsorption isotherms (affinity, capacity) of the investigated proteins and the displacer.     

Displacement chromatography of chemotactic peptides

Displacement chromatography was successfully used to separate a binary peptide mixture, n-formyl-Met–Phe and n-formyl-Met–Trp, on a reversed-phase column. Displacement parameters such as choice of displacer, displacer concentration, mobile phase organic level, and flow-rate were critically examined in the context of maximizing productivity. Since the feed composition was limited by solubility, optimal productivity was sought as a function of feed volume. The impurities contained in the commercial displacers used in this study did not seem to affect the overall separation quality. In most cases the final pattern of contiguous rectangular bands was not attained; nevertheless, separations of high productivity were achieved using benzethonium chloride and tris[2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethyl]amine as displacers. In some cases further increase in productivity was not possible only because of solubility constraints. Loading of feed at low initial organic modulator level coupled with displacements at higher modulator level was found to give efficient separations.