Adsorption of proteins onto non-soluble polysaccharides matrixes: a friendly strategy to isolate enzymes with potential application for downstream processes

Polysaccharides with electrically charged groups, polyelectrolytes (PE), have the capacity to form hydrogels under different experimental conditions, which act as ionic exchanges with high affinity to adsorb proteins. Presented in this chapter is a description of the current state of the technic on the use of these matrixes. Alginate, carrageenan, chitosan, pectin, etc. are the most used PE to make beds with the capacity of proteins adsorption. The presence of electrically charged residual groups in these PE allows their use as beds for the ion exchange chromatography in stirred tank of packed bed or expended bed. We demonstrated the adsorption of lysozyme, a model protein positively charged, onto Alginate-Guar gum matrixes cross-linked with epichlorohydrin (negatively charged). Their physical characterization, equilibrium isotherms and adsorption kinetics were carried out. Successive cycles of adsorption-washing-elution were performed. The results demonstrate the reversibility of the process and the capacity of this enzyme purification method.