Aqueous two-phase systems: Towards novel and more disruptive applications

Author(s)

Pereira, Jorge F. B. ^[1] ; Freire, Mara G. ^[2] ; Coutinho, Joao A. P. ^[2]

Affiliation

^[1] Sao Paulo State Univ UNESP, Sch Pharmaceut Sci, Dept Bioproc & Biotechnol, Rodovia Araraquara Jau 01, Campos Ville, BR-14800903 Amraquara, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Aveiro, Dept Chem, CICECO Aveiro Inst Mat, P-3810193 Aveiro - Portugal

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Fluid Phase Equilibria; v. 505, FEB 1 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 2

Abstract

Aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS) have been mainly proposed as powerful platforms for the separation and purification of high-value biomolecules. However, after more than seven decades of research, ATPS are still a major academic curiosity, without their wide acceptance and implementation by industry, leading to the question whether ATPS should be mainly considered in downstream bioprocessing. Recently, due to their versatility and expansion of the Biotechnology and Material Science fields, these systems have been investigated in novel applications, such as in cellular micropatterning and bioprinting, microencapsulation, to mimic cells conditions, among others. This perspective aims to be a reflection on the current status of ATPS as separation platforms, while overviewing their applications, strengths and limitations. Novel applications, advantages and bottlenecks of ATPS are further discussed, indicating some directions on their use to create innovative industrial processes and commercial products. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 14/16424-7 - Optimization and scale-up of liquid-liquid extraction process with ionic liquids (ILs) as a sustainable tool for the separation of the anti-leukemia biopharmaceutical L-asparaginase (ASPase)
• Grantee: Jorge Pereira
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants