Telma Barroso

Development and characterization of a thermoresponsive polysulfone membrane using an environmental friendly technology

A new and environmentally friendly technology has been used successfully to produce thermoresponsive polysulfone membranes with good performance in terms of valve mechanism in the pores, with a complete on-off control of water permeability. Membranes were prepared using a CO2-assisted phase inversion method and their pores were coated/impregnated with a thermoresponsive polymer – poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) – using a new methodology for the preparation of these type of structures. The coating/impregnation efficiency was assessed by SEM and XPS analysis that confirmed the presence of nitrogen due to the thermoresponsive hydrogel. Contact angle measurements and phosphate buffer solution permeability were determined in order to characterize the structure hydrophobicity variations with temperature. The on-off mechanism was tested using a model protein (BSA) as a proof of concept for the ability to control pore apertures by temperature stimulus. A diffusion model based on Ficks law and Langmuir adsorption was developed.

Functional monolithic platforms: chromatographic tools for antibody purification.

Polymer monoliths are an efficient platform for antibody purification. The use of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and engineered antibody structures as therapeutics has increased exponentially over the past few decades. Several approaches use polymer monoliths to purify large quantities of antibody with defined clinical and performance requirements. Functional monolithic supports have attracted a great deal of attention as they offer practical advantages for antibody purification, such as more rapid analysis, smaller sample volume requirements and the opportunity for a greater target molecule enrichment. This review focuses on the development of synthetic and natural polymer‐based monoliths for antibody purification. The materials and methods employed in monolith production are discussed, highlighting the properties of each system. We also review the structural characterization techniques available using monolithic systems and their performance under different chromatographic approaches to antibody capture and release. Finally, a summary of monolithic platforms developed for antibody separation is presented, as well as expected trends in research to solve current and future challenges in this field. This review comprises a comprehensive analysis of proposed solutions highlighting the remarkable potential of monolithic platforms.

Anti-biofouling 3D porous systems: the blend effect of oxazoline-based oligomers on chitosan scaffolds.

The production, characterization and anti-biofouling activity of 3D porous scaffolds combining different blends of chitosan and oxazoline-based antimicrobial oligomers is reported. The incorporation of ammonium quaternized oligo(2-oxazoline)s into the composition of the scaffold enhances the stability of the chitosan scaffold under physiological conditions as well as its ability to repel protein adsorption. The blended scaffolds showed mean pore sizes in the range of 18–32 μm, a good pore interconnectivity and high porosity, as well as a large surface area, ultimate key features for anti-biofouling applications. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) adhesion profiles showed that the composition of the scaffolds plays a critical role in the chitosan–oligooxazoline system. Oligobisoxazoline-enriched scaffolds (20% w/w, CB8020) decreased protein adsorption (BSA) by up to 70%. Moreover, 1 mg of CB8020 was able to kill 99.9% of Escherichia coli cells upon contact, demonstrating its potential as promising material for production of tailored non-fouling 3D structures to be used in the construction of novel devices with applications in the biomedical field and water treatment processes.

Bioinspired and sustainable chitosan-based monoliths for antibody capture and release

Chitosan-based monoliths activated by plasma technology induced the coupling of a robust biomimetic ligand, previously reported as an artificial Protein A, with high yields while minimizing the environmental impact of the procedure. Due to the high porosity, good mechanical and tunable physicochemical properties of the affinity chitosan-based monoliths, it is possible to achieve high binding capacities (150 ± 10 mg antibody per gram support), and to recover 90 ± 5% of the bound protein with 98% purity directly from cell-culture extracts. Therefore, the chitosan-based monoliths prepared by clean processes exhibit a remarkable performance for the one-step capture and recovery of pure antibodies or other biological molecules with biopharmaceutical relevance.

Structural evaluation of an alternative Protein A biomimetic ligand for antibody purification

Affinity chromatography is one of the most common techniques employed at the industrial-scale for antibody purification. In particular, the purification of human immunoglobulin G (hIgG) has gained relevance with the immobilization of its natural binding counterpart—Staphylococcus aureus Protein A (SpA) or with the recent development of biomimetic affinity ligands, namely triazine-based ligands. These ligands have been developed in order to overcome economic and leaching issues associated to SpA. The most recent triazine-based ligand—TPN-BM, came up as an analogue of 2-(3-amino-phenol)-6-(4-amino-1-naphthol)-4-chloro-sym-triazine ligand also known as ligand 22/8 with improved physico-chemical properties and a greener synthetic route. This work intends to evaluate the potential of TPN-BM as an alternative affinity ligand towards antibody recognition and binding, namely IgG, at an atomic level, since it has already been tested, after immobilization onto chitosan-based monoliths and demonstrated interesting affinity behaviour for this purpose. Herein, combining automated molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations it was predicted that TPN-BM has high propensity to bind IgG through the same binding site found in the crystallographic structure of SpA_IgG complex, as well as theoretically predicted for ligand 22/8_IgG complex. Furthermore, it was found that TPN-BM established preferential interactions with aromatic residues at the Fab domain (Trp 50, Tyr 53, Tyr 98 and Trp 100), while in the Fc domain the main interactions are based on hydrogen bonds with pH sensitive residues at operational regime for binding and elution like histidines (His 460, His 464, His 466). Moreover, the pH dependence of TPN-BM_IgG complex formation was more evident for the Fc domain, where at pH 3 the protonation state and consequently the charge alteration of histidine residues located at the IgG binding site induced ligand detachment which explains the optimal elution condition at this pH observed experimentally.

A green approach toward antibody purification: a sustainable biomimetic ligand for direct immobilization on (bio)polymeric supports

This paper presents a sustainable strategy for improving the capture of antibodies by affinity chromatography. A novel biomimetic ligand (4‐((4‐chloro‐6‐(3‐hydroxyphenoxy)‐1,3,5‐triazin‐2‐yl)oxy)naphthalen‐1‐ol) (TPN‐BM) was synthesized using a greener and simple protocol to overcome solubility limitations associated with ligand 22/8, known as artificial protein A. Furthermore, its subsequent immobilization on chitosan‐based monoliths induced by plasma surface activation allowed the design of a fast and efficient chromatographic platform for immunoglobulin G (IgG) purification. The TPN‐BM functionalized monoliths exhibited high‐binding capacity (160 ± 10 mg IgG per gram of support), and a selective capture of monoclonal antibodies directly from mammalian crude extracts in 85 ± 5% yield and 98% of purity. The synthesis of ligand TPN‐BM and the routes followed for monoliths preparation and functionalization were inspired in the green chemistry principles allowing the reduction of processing time, solvents and purification steps involved, turning the integrated system attractive from an economical and chemical point of view. Copyright

Biobased Monoliths for Adenovirus Purification

Adenoviruses are important platforms for vaccine development and vectors for gene therapy, increasing the demand for high titers of purified viral preparations. Monoliths are macroporous supports regarded as ideal for the purification of macromolecular complexes, including viral particles. Although common monoliths are based on synthetic polymers as methacrylates, we explored the potential of biopolymers processed by clean technologies to produce monoliths for adenovirus purification. Such an approach enables the development of disposable and biodegradable matrices for bioprocessing. A total of 20 monoliths were produced from different biopolymers (chitosan, agarose, and dextran), employing two distinct temperatures during the freezing process (-20 °C and -80 °C). The morphological and physical properties of the structures were thoroughly characterized. The monoliths presenting higher robustness and permeability rates were further analyzed for the nonspecific binding of Adenovirus serotype 5 (Ad5) preparations. The matrices presenting lower nonspecific Ad5 binding were further functionalized with quaternary amine anion-exchange ligand glycidyltrimethylammonium chloride hydrochloride by two distinct methods, and their performance toward Ad5 purification was assessed. The monolith composed of chitosan and poly(vinyl) alcohol (50:50) prepared at -80 °C allowed 100% recovery of Ad5 particles bound to the support. This is the first report of the successful purification of adenovirus using monoliths obtained from biopolymers processed by clean technologies.

Development of Switchable “Smart” Biomaterials Using an Environmental Friendly Technology

The possibility of using three dimensional porous networks as microreactors for synthesizing thermoresponsive polymers and hydrogels in a CO 2 environment is an important breakthrough in the strategies to prepare smart films, membranes and porous bulky devices that undergo fast reversible changes in surface properties triggered by external stimuli. In situ synthesis of thermoresponsive polymers namely, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) and poly (N,N-diethylacrylamide) (PDEAAm) within chitosan (CHT), collagen (CLG) and chitosan-collagen (CHT:CLG) blended scaffolds were performed in order to further impregnate with model drugs. The performance of these switchable release devices was evaluated through the study of drug release kinetics as a function of temperature and pH. The same methodology was successfully applied to produce thermoresponsive polysulfone-based membranes.