Cibacron blue F3G-A-attached uniform and macroporous poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) particles for specific albumin adsorption

Cibacron blue F3G-A-carrying uniform macroporous particles were proposed as an alternative sorbent for specific albumin adsorption. These particles we re produced by a multistep polymerization procedure. In the first step of p roduction, the uniform polystyrene seed particles were prepared by a disper sion polymerization method. Next, the polystyrene seed particles were first swollen by dibutylphthalate and then by styrene-divinylbenzene mixture in an aqueous emulsion medium. In the last step (i.e. repolymerization), styre ne-divinylbenzene mixture was copolymerized within the swollen seed particl es in the absence or presence of a stabilizer (e.g. poly(vinyl alcohol)). A lthough a considerable amount of non-specific BSA adsorption was observed a n the surface of the particles produced in the absence of PVA, zero non-spe cific albumin adsorption could be achieved with the uniform macroporous par ticles produced in the presence of PVA. The stabilizer on the particle surf ace was also used as a ligand in the further derivatization of macroporous particles for specific albumin adsorption. Cibacron blue F3G-A was then cov alently attached onto the surface of uniform macroporous particles. Specifi c albumin adsorption capacities up to 93 mg g(-1) could be achieved with th e cibacron blue F3G-A-carrying macroporous particles of 6.25 mu m in size.