Molecular imprinting: application in the separation of protein

• Grant number: 13/17754-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research
• Start date: December 07, 2013
• End date: February 17, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Sonia Maria Alves Bueno
• Grantee: Sonia Maria Alves Bueno
• Host Investigator: Karsten Olaf Haupt
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia Química (FEQ). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Université de Technologie de Compiègne (UTC), France

Abstract

The present high demand for biopharmaceuticals and biomolecules for use in diagnostic kits has led the industry to increase effort in reducing production costs of these bioproducts. Since the purification processes available for these molecules represent, in general, a large fraction of these costs, there is considerable need to develop new and more economical purification methodologies. The development of biomimetic adsorbents for use as a stationary phase in affinity chromatography is one of the most studied topics in downstream processing of bioproducts, especially monoclonal antibodies. In this direction, biomimetic adsorbents obtained by molecular imprinting technique aiming the purification of biomolecules have great potential, but requires intense research. The technique of protein-imprinting polymers has not been completely established, especially with regard to development of adsorbents for the purification of large molecules such as proteins. Furthermore, the literature in the area of protein-imprinting polymers is scarce compared to studies involving the imprinting of small molecules. The objective of this work is the learning of the technique of molecular imprinting and to do preliminary study of preparation of protein molecularly imprinted. Prof. Dr. Karsten Haupt (UTC, France), the host researcher, has profound knowledge on molecular imprinting. This two and a half months residence in his laboratory will assure me the basic knowledge for the implementation of a new line in my laboratory. It will also allow deep discussions in other two topics of common interest related to molecular imprinting: antibody purification by affinity systems and affinity membranes. (AU)