Poly(ethylenimine) (PEI) of 60 kDa was employed to modify agarose gel at 10 ionic capacities (ICs, 100�1200 mmol/L). It was found that the IC had significant effect on the protein (serum albumin) adsorption capacity (Q) and effective diffusivity (D). Most remarkably, it was found that at the narrow range of IC from 600 to 740 mmol/L, there were sharp increases of both Q and D values (36% and 670%, respectively). Then, in the high IC range (>740 mmol/L), Q decreased significantly while D increased moderately with increasing IC. The results indicate that there was a critical IC (cIC) or critical PEI chain density at which protein transport behavior changed drastically. The cIC was identified at approximately 650 mmol/L. At IC>cIC, it is likely that adjacent PEI chains became close enough, leading to facilitated transport of adsorbed protein molecules by the swing of the flexible chains.

Protein adsorption to poly(ethylenimine)-based ion exchangers: A critical ionic capacity for facilitated protein uptake kinetics

245th National Meeting (2013)

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