Macroporous copolymer matrix: IV. Expanded bed adsorption application

Macroporous crosslinked hydroxyethyl methacrylate–ethylene dimethacrylate copolymeric beads (HEG beads) were synthesized by suspension polymerization in the presence of a pore generating agent. These beads were coupled to α-cyclodextrin through a urethane spacer. These modified copolymer beads (affinity-HEG beads) so prepared were evaluated for their suitability in expanded bed chromatography. The optimum thickness of the distributor plate for stable expanded bed for use in expanded bed adsorption (EBA) was established. The affinity-HEG beads are comparable in density to Streamline diethyl amino ethane (DEAE) and exhibit better mechanical stability at higher superficial velocity under fluidization. The affinity-HEG beads were used as affinity chromatography matrices for the purification of cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase. Feeding of 5-fold diluted fermented broth to the column containing affinity-HEG beads of settled bed height 7.5 cm (I.D. 26 mm and length 42 cm) at double bed expansion resulted in a sharp breakthrough curve of α-cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase (CGTase). The adsorbed enzyme was eluted from the bed in 50 mM Tris–HCl buffer containing 10 mM CaCl2 at 25°C in packed bed configuration.