Research Initiation Award: Oriented Short-Fiber Bed for Downstream Processing of Proteins

该项目将开发部分定向、离子交换短纤维床，用于蛋白质的层析分离。理论预测这种结构具有高吸附容量和高流速的潜力。该纤维将是交联聚乙烯亚胺在磁化大孔聚砜载体上。在磁场的作用下，纤维会被包裹起来。将进行研究以确定纤维床部分定向的条件。一旦所需的填料被开发出来，将对六种蛋白质进行分离，以确定使用部分定向纤维的相对优点和缺点。生物技术的许多前景的实现取决于新的分离过程。大规模柱层析是未来最有前途的技术之一。传统的塔通常面临着高容量和大压降之间的权衡。如果部分定向，离子交换，短纤维床可以同时实现低压降和高表面积，它们无疑将在生物技术中找到重要的应用。

The project will develop beds of partially oriented, ion-exchange short fibers for the chromagraphic separation of proteins. Theory predicts this configuration has the potential for having both high adsorption capacity and high flow rates. The fiber will be a cross linked polyethyleneimine on a magnetized macroporous polysulfone support. The fibers will be packed in the presence of a magnetic field. Studies will be performed to determine conditions under which the bed of fibers is partially oriented. Once the desired packing is developed, separations will be performed on six proteins to determine the relative advantages and disadvantages of using partially oriented fibers. Realization of much of the promise of biotechnology depends upon new separation processes. Large-scale column chromatography is one of the most promising future technologies. Conventional columns generally face a trade-off between high-capacity and large pressure drops. If partially oriented, ion-exchange, short fiber beds can simultaneously achieve low pressure drops and high-surface areas they will undoubtedly find important applications in biotechnology.