Separation of proteins and viruses using two-phase aqueous micellar systems

• Published in: Journal of chromatography. B, Biomedical sciences and applications Vol. 711; no. 1; pp. 127 - 138
• Main Authors: Liu, Chia-li, Kamei, Daniel T, King, Jonathan A, Wang, Daniel I.C, Blankschtein, Daniel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 26-06-1998
• Subjects: Bacteriophages; Bacteriophages - isolation & purification; Chemistry Techniques, Analytical - methods; Ethylene Oxide; Micelles; Proteins; Proteins - isolation & purification; Surface-Active Agents; Proteins; Bacteriophages; Two-phase aqueous systems; Partitioning
• ISSN: 0378-4347; 1387-2273
• DOI: 10.1016/S0378-4347(98)00013-9

We discuss the utilization of a novel two-phase aqueous nonionic micellar system for the purification and concentration of biomolecules, such as proteins and viruses, by liquid–liquid extraction. The nonionic surfactant
n-decyl tetra(ethylene oxide), C
10E
4, phase separates in water into two coexisting aqueous micellar phases by increasing temperature. The mild interactions of the C
10E
4 nonionic surfactant with biomolecules, combined with the high water content of the two coexisting micellar phases, suggest the potential utility of two-phase aqueous C
10E
4 micellar systems for the purification and concentration of biomolecules. In this paper, we review our recent experimental and theoretical studies involving the partitioning of several water-soluble proteins, including cytochrome
c, soybean trypsin inhibitor, ovalbumin, bovine serum albumin, and catalase, in the two-phase aqueous C
10E
4 micellar system. In addition, we present results of our preliminary experimental investigation on the partitioning of bacteriophages, including φX174, P22, and T4.