GEL FIBERGLASS AS A NEW SUPPORT FOR AFFINITY-CHROMATOGRAPHY

A new support for affinity chromatography in the form of a gel fibregl ass (GFG) has recently been invented [Zusman (1992) Isr. Pat. Appl. 10 2948; Zusman (1993) U.S. Pat. Appl. 08/115 087]. The support is prepar ed from glass fibres covered with oxysilanes so as to provide a 'gel f ibreglass' matrix. Derivatization of the support eliminates non-specif ic absorption of proteins. A thin layer of protein trapped in the gel glass during preparation is created on the surface of a lattice of gla ss fibres. External agents from the sample for analysis percolate thro ugh this support and contact a maximum number of molecules of compound s trapped in the gel glass. The supports are very stable and can be st ored in dry conditions for a few months at room temperature. The GFG s uppports were used for affinity chromatography to isolate various prot eins. A 10-50 mg portion of BSA and human gamma globulin, as well as r abbit IgG, which were generated against different proteins, were entra pped in GFG supports, The volumes of the prepared columns varied from 1 to 5 ml. The columns were utilized for isolation of affinity protein s. The capacity of such supports is up to 12 mg/ml of serum percolated through a column. The greater the amount of entrapped IgG, the more t he columns can be re-used. It is shown that the GFG supports have grea t potential for isolating various macromolecules utilizing specific li gands.