The development of convective technologies for antibody purification is of interest to the bioprocessing industries. This study developed a Protein A membrane using a combination of graft polymerization and copper(I)-catalyzed alkyne-azide click chemistry. Regenerated cellulose supports were functionalized via surface-initiated copolymerization of propargyl methacrylate (PgMA) and poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMEMA300), followed by a reaction with azide-functionalized Protein A ligand. The polymer-modified membranes were characterized using attenuated total reflectance Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), gravimetric analysis, and permeability measurements. Copolymer composition was determined using the Mayo-Lewis equation. Membranes clicked with azide-conjugated Protein A were evaluated by measuring static and dynamic binding (DBC10) capacities for human immunoglobulin G (hIgG). Copolymer composition and degree of grafting were found to affect maximum static binding capacities, with values ranging from 5 to 16 mg/mL. DBC10 values did not vary with flow rate, as expected of membrane adsorbers.
Keywords: AGET ATRP; affinity chromatography; antibody purification; surface-initiated polymerization.