Cellulose can be processed into carboxylated cellulose nanofibres which form hydrogels at very low solids content (0.1 wt.%). These nanocellulose hydrogels present tremendous potential for high value products, particularly in food and biomedical applications. Here, for the first time, we report nanocellulose gels as electrophoretic material for protein separation. The effect of critical gel variables: fibre concentration, cross-linker ratio and type, and electrophoresis conditions (voltage) on gel stability and electrophoresis performance is presented. The effect of nanocellulose hydrogel morphology on electrophoresis separation was quantified by measuring the diffusion rate of a mixture of two tracking dyes (bromophenol blue and orange G) differing in molecular weight. The amount of cross-linker has no effect on the separation and migration of the tracking dyes; however, it prevents the expansion of the nanocellulose gels during electrophoresis. Changing the length of cross-linker from a C6 to a C2-chain results in a smaller pore network size leading to a slower migration of dyes. Increasing the voltage from 5V/cm to 10V/cm increases the migration rate of the dyes. Separation of proteins mixtures by electrophoresis nanocellulose hydrogel is finally analysed. Nanocellulose gels is an attractive new material for protein separation.

Nanocellulose hydrogels for electrophoresis

2019 Spring National Meeting

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