MICROPOROUS MICROPARTICLES DESIGNED AS STABLE IMMUNOADSORBENTS

We have developed a solid-phase immunoadsorbent based on encapsulated goat anti-apolipoprotein B polyclonal antibodies previously crosslinke d with a 0.25% glutaraldehyde solution, and designed to remove by immu noaffinity the excess of apolipoproteins B from the plasma of patients affected by familial hypercholesterolemia. Compared to a classical im munoadsorbent prepared by activation of Sepharose CL-4B with cyanogen bromide, the resulting immunoadsorbent exhibits both optimal adsorptio n capacity and stability over the entire range of chemical and biochem ical conditions during its practical handling. This approach will serv e as a model system to demonstrate the applicability of microparticles as immunoadsorbents, which can be achieved for other encapsulated cro sslinked proteins. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.