Immobilization of a (dextran-adamantane-COOH) polymer onto β-cyclodextrin-modified silica

Adamantane-modified compounds are known to form stable complexes with β-cyclodextrins (β-CD) by host–guest interactions. In this study, the inclusion complex formed between β-CD cavities and the adamantane group was evaluated for the elaboration of a cation-exchange support. The synthesis of the chromatographic supports involved three steps: (i) a polymer of β-CD was grafted to diol-modified silica, (ii) a dextran polymer was modified by both adamantane groups and ionizable COOH functions, (iii) the dextran derivative (Ad-Dex-COOH) was bound to the chromatographic support by complexation between the adamantane groups of the dextran and β-CD cavities of the support. The polymer immobilization on the β-CD support was successful as the resulting support exhibited weak cation-exchange properties. The stationary phase was easy to prepare under mild conditions (aqueous media, room temperature) and was quite stable when using aqueous mobile phases. The chromatographic behaviour of model proteins was studied in isocratic elution by examining the effect of salt concentration in the buffer on retention. A mixed retention mode was found for lysozyme, revealing both electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions with the stationary phase.