A new approach based on monitoring of phase formation kinetics for examination of biological particles and cells,using aqueous two phase polymer systems

An original technique of use of two-phase polymer systems as an analytical research method is described. The technique is based on the absorbance change of two-phase systems in visible spectrum during formation of the phases. Dynamics of this process was demonstrated as the kinetic curves. Addition of studied objects (macromolecules or cells) to the two-phase system modified the shape of the kinetic curve, depending on their individual surface properties. The technique has the following advantages as compared with traditional procedures of the particle surface analysis with the help of two-phase polymer systems: examination of particles with partition coefficients approaching zero; multiple analyses of the same samples; use of interphase as a matrix for study of spontaneous formation of studied particle complexes. The opportunities of the technique were demonstrated in a series of previous authors' works.     

Physico-chemical features of solvent media in the phases of aqueous polymer two-phase systems

Solvent polarity and pH in the coexisting aqueous phases of aqueous dextran-poly(ethylene glycol) and dextran-Ficoll two-phase systems of varied polymer concentrations were examined using the solvatochromic technique and potentiometric measurements, respectively. The relative solvent polarity of the phases, as measured by the solvatochromic technique, is suggested as a measure of the hydration power of water in the phases of aqueous polymer systems. Partitioning of a series of sulphonephthalein dyes in aqueous dextran-poly(ethylene glycol) and dextran-Ficoll two-phase systems of fixed polymer composition containing 0.01 mol/L universal buffer, pH 7.15, was studied. The results obtained are discussed together with those reported earlier on the physico-chemical features of aqueous media in the coexisting phases of the systems. It is suggested that the two phases of aqueous polymer systems should be viewed as two immiscible water-like solvents. The implications of the suggestion for the theoretical treatment of aqueous polymer two-phase systems are discussed.     

Aqueous two-phase polymer systems as tools for the study of a recombinant surface-expressed Escherichia coli hemagglutinin.

The surface expression of an integral membrane hemagglutinin, HRA1, cloned from Escherichia coli O9: H10:K99 in heterologous E. coli strains was studied by utilizing a variety of polyethylene glycol-dextran and dextran-Ficoll aqueous two-phase polymer systems. Bacteria containing plasmids that encoded the hemagglutinin were found to partition differently from both the host bacteria lacking the plasmid and the original hemagglutinating strain in several of these systems. By using molecular biological techniques, the origin of the partition difference was unambiguously correlated to the expression of HRA1, providing evidence independent of the agglutination phenotype that the protein was accessible to the surrounding milieu. It was demonstrated by using bacterial partition in charge-sensitive systems that the agglutination event was not likely to be due to the presence of a nonspecific positively charged surface protein, as HRA1-expressing clones showed no less affinity for the relatively positive polyethylene glycol-rich upper phase than did control bacteria. This work demonstrates the utility of aqueous polymer two-phase systems for the study of surface-expressed recombinant proteins, due to the sensitivity of the systems and the presence of excellent controls (the host bacteria before plasmid introduction). In cloning and expression studies of surface-associated proteins, two-phase aqueous polymer systems could be used as an alternative to antibody production for the monitoring of surface expression, and these systems may give valuable information on the surface exposure of the protein.     

Characterization of aqueous two-phase systems based on polydisperse phase forming polymers: Enzymatic hydrolysis of starch in a PEG-starch aqueous two-phase system

A new method for determination of the binodial of an aqueous two-phase system, using spectrophotometric measurements of the turbidity, is described in this article. The method is especially designed to characterize phase systems composed of polydisperse phase components. It gives information about the area representing the transition from homogeneous solution to a two-phase system. The two-phase systems studied were first a conventional Dextran T40-polyethylene glycol 20M (PEG 20M) system, then a less-well-defined phase system based on PEG 20M and partially hydrolyzed starch. The PEG 20M-starch system could be changed with respect to the volume ratio between the phases with time using hydrolytic enzymes, and the possibility of using the glucose released from the starch polymer is pointed out. Then the system is transformed to an extractive biconversion where the bottom phase polymer also served as the substrate.     

Choice of an aqueous polymer two-phase system for cell partition

Partition of human erythrocytes in aqueous two-phase polymer systems produced by Ficoll and different molecular weight fractions of dextran and polyethylene glycol and the influence of the ionic composition on the cells' partition in the systems was studied. It is found that the Ficoll-dextran-40 system is characterized by a number of advantages as compared with the common dextran-polyethylene glycol system or the others systems under study. The main advantage of the system appears to be that it is possible to concentrate the red cells in the top phase or in the bottom phase of the system, depending on the system ionic composition. The influence of the nature and the concentration of salt additives on this two-phase system formation is examined.     

Mechanisms of phase behaviour and protein partitioning in detergent/polymer aqueous two-phase systems for purification of integral membrane proteins

Detergent/polymer aqueous two-phase systems are studied as a fast, mild and efficient general separation method for isolation of labile integral membrane proteins. Mechanisms for phase behaviour and protein partitioning of both membrane-bound and hydrophilic proteins have been examined in a large number of detergent/polymer aqueous two-phase systems. Non-ionic detergents such as the Triton series (polyoxyethylene alkyl phenols), alkyl polyoxyethylene ethers (C(m)EO(n)), Tween series (polyoxyethylene sorbitol esters) and alkylglucosides form aqueous two-phase systems in mixtures with hydrophilic polymers, such as PEG or dextran, at low and moderate temperatures. Phase diagrams for these mixtures are shown and phase behaviour is discussed from a thermodynamic model. Membrane proteins, such as bacteriorhodopsin and cholesterol oxidase, were partitioned strongly to the micelle phase, while hydrophilic proteins, BSA and lysozyme, were partitioned to the polymer phase. The partitioning of membrane protein is mainly determined by non-specific hydrophobic interactions between detergent and membrane protein. An increased partitioning of membrane proteins to the micelle phase was found with an increased detergent concentration difference between the phases, lower polymer molecular weight and increased micelle size. Partitioning of hydrophilic proteins is mainly related to excluded volume effects, i.e. increased phase component size made the hydrophilic proteins partition more to the opposite phase. Addition of ionic detergent to the system changed the partitioning of membrane proteins slightly, but had a strong effect on hydrophilic proteins, and can be used for enhanced separation between hydrophilic proteins and membrane protein.     

Features of formation of phases of dual-phase polymeric system in the presence of collagen I, laminin I, and their mixtures

A study was made of the phase formation kinetics of a two-phase aqueous polymer system, consisting of 7.8% (w/w) dextran-500 and 4.6% (w/w) polyethylene glycol-6000, in the presence of various concentrations of collagen (0.07-0.20 mg/ml), laminin I (0.01-0.03 mg/ml) and their mixture. The phase formation was evaluated by registration of its optical density on a spectrophotometer. The obtained two-phase polymer system optical density curves and also the partitioning coefficients for the studied objects depend on surface properties of these objects. It has been shown that the surface properties of collagen I and laminin I differ according to differences in their molecules conformations, and that the phase formation kinetics points to their interaction during a mutual partitioning of these proteins in the system. The authors made a conclusion that collagen I and laminin I in the two-phase polymer system conditions could make complexes.     

Extractive bioconversion in aqueous two-phase systems

Summary The transformation of hydrocortisone to prednisolone was studied in aqueous two-phase systems, as a model for the extractive bioconversion of fine chemicals. The bacterium, Arthrobacter simplex, was able to grow in the two-phase system and the cells could be revitalized after a period of use. Use of aqueous two-phase systems made it possible to operate the reaction at higher substrate concentrations than in pure buffer solution. An adsorptive method to remove the product from the top phase was tested and shown to be both efficient and compatible with the overall process. In order to reduce the costs of operation in aqueous two-phase systems, a cheaper starch-based polymer, Reppal-PES, was successfully used as a substitute for dextran.Dedicated to Professor Dr. Georg Manecke on the occasion of his 70th birthday     

Separation of amino acids and peptides by temperature induced phase partitioning. Theoretical model for partitioning and experimental data

There is a strong interest in use of ‘smart polymers’ in separation systems. These are polymers which can react on external influence, such as temperature or pH change. With such polymers it is possible from the outside to affect the properties of a separation system. Amphiphilic copolymers show drastic changes in solubility properties, such as self-association and phase separation, at e.g. temperature increase. The random copolymers of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide units (EOPO-polymers) can form aqueous two-phase systems above the copolymer cloud point temperature. Two phases are formed, one consisting of 40–60% polymer in water and the other of almost 100% water. Amino acids and peptides can be partitioned in the thermoseparating systems. The partitioning strongly depends on the solute hydrophobicity, where aromatic amino acids and peptides are partitioned to the polymer phase and hydrophilic to the water phase. Salt effects can be used to enhance the partitioning of charged molecules. The thermodynamic driving forces which govern the partitioning of molecules in a thermoseparated aqueous phase system is described with use of the Flory-Huggins theory for polymer solutions. Expressions are derived which show the entropic and enthalpic effects on solute partitioning. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Partitioning of host and recombinant cells in aqueous two-phase polymer systems

The separation of host and recombinant Escherichia coli bacterial cells has been studied using the surface-sensitive technique of partitioning in aqueous two-phase polymer systems. Experiments were designed to probe charge-and hydrophobicity-related property differences of antibiotic-resistant recombinant cells and their antibiotic-sensitive hosts. Differential partitioning was observed in both charge-sensitive and non-charge-sensitive phase systems for three host-recombinant cell systems, but the non-charge-related effects appear to have a greater impact on partitioning behavior. This result suggests that plasmid-encoded products related to antibiotic resistance modify the surface hydrophobicity of the E. coli bacterial cell and that these differences can be exploited for cell separation.     

Extraction of proteins from material rich in anionic mucilages: partition and fractionation of vanadate-dependent bromoperoxidases from the brown algae Laminaria digitata and L. saccharina in aqueous polymer two-phase systems

For various reasons extraction of proteins from plant material is difficult. In particular phenolic compounds and polyanionic cell-wall mucilages render conventional procedures of extraction and purification much more difficult. In this respect, aqueous polymer two-phase systems are presented as a powerful technique in extraction of vanadate-dependent bromoperoxidases from the brown macroalga Laminaria digitata, a seaweed extremely rich in mucilages. Little bromoperoxidase activity was obtained when fresh thallus material was extracted in Tris buffer. Extraction from freeze-dried and powdered material was more efficient but only satisfactory when partitioning in an aqueous polymer two-phase system was employed. Among several two-phase systems tested, one composed of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG 1550) and potassium carbonate proved most successful (phase system-1). A rapid and efficient extraction procedure was developed with special regard for suitability in large scale processes. Staining for catalytic activity after PAGE revealed a pattern of several bromoperoxidase isoforms. Bromoperoxidases extracted in phase system-1 were fractionated into two groups of isoforms by partitioning in a second system (phase system-2) indicating that isoforms from both groups differ significantly in surface properties. Subsequently, one purification step by hydrophobic interaction chromatography was sufficient to remove residual non-peroxidase proteins as well as remaining polysaccharides from bromoperoxidases of both groups. Thus, consideration of aqueous two-phase systems as a technique for extraction and purification of plant proteins can be recommended, whenever inconveniant amounts of phenolic compounds, mucilages or pigments are present.     

Biophysical consequences of linker chemistry and polymer size on stealth erythrocytes: size does matter

Immunocamouflaged red blood cells (RBC) are produced by cell surface derivatization with methoxypolyethylene glycol (mPEG). These immunologically attenuated cells may reduce the risk of allosensitization in chronically transfused patients. To characterize the effects of differing linker chemistries and polymer lengths, RBC were modified with cyanuric chloride activated mPEG (C-mPEG 5 kDa), benzotriazole carbonate methoxyPEG (BTC-mPEG; 5 or 20 kDa) or N-hydroxysuccinimidyl ester of mPEG propionic acid (SPA-mPEG; 2, 5 or 20 kDa). Biophysical methods including particle electrophoresis and aqueous two-phase polymer partitioning were employed to compare the PEG derivatives. While C-mPEG was faster reacting, both BTC-mPEG and SPA-mPEG gave comparable findings after 1 h. Both PEG surface density and molecular mass had a large effect on RBC surface properties. Proportional changes in electrophoretic mobility and preferential phase partitioning were achieved by increasing either the quantity of surface PEG or the PEG molecular mass. In addition, two-phase partitioning may provide a means for efficiently removing unmodified or lightly modified (hence potentially immunogenic) RBC in the clinical setting. Furthermore, mPEG modification significantly inhibits cell-cell interaction as evidenced by loss of Rouleaux formation and, consequently, sedimentation rate. Importantly, BTC-mPEG 20 kDa RBC showed normal in vivo survival in mice at immunoprotective concentrations (up to 2 mM).     

The selectivity of protein‐imprinted gels and its relation to protein properties: A computer simulation study

Polymer‐based protein recognition systems have enormous potential within clinical and diagnostic fields due to their reusability, biocompatibility, ease of manufacturing, and potential specificity. Imprinted polymer matrices have been extensively studied and applied as a simple technique for creating artificial polymer‐based recognition gels for a target molecule. Although this technique has been proven effective when targeting small molecules (such as drugs), imprinting of proteins have so far resulted in materials with limited selectivity due to the large molecular size of the protein and aqueous environment. Using coarse‐grained molecular simulation, we investigate the relation between protein makeup, polymer properties, and the selectivity of imprinted gels. Nonspecific binding that results in poor selectivity is shown to be strongly dependent on surface chemistry of the template and competitor proteins as well as on polymer chemistry. Residence time distributions of proteins diffusing within the gels provide a transparent picture of the relation between polymer constitution, protein properties, and the nonspecific interactions with the imprinted gel. The pronounced effect of protein surface chemistry on imprinted gel specificity is demonstrated.     

High-efficiency loading, transfection, and fusion of cells by electroporation in two-phase polymer systems.

A method to concentrate drugs, DNA, or other materials with target cells in two-phase polymer systems for high-efficiency electroloading is described. The two-phase polymer system is utilized for cell and loading material selection, as well as for cell aggregation before electrofusion. The phase mixing of several water-soluble polymers is characterized, and the polyethylene glycol-Dextran (PEG m.w. 8,000 + Dextran m.w. 71,000) mixture is selected to illustrate the advantage of the two-phase systems. Fluorescently labeled Dextran or DNA is loaded into Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) and JTL cells, using electroporation in either the two-phase polymer system or the conventional single-phase suspension. The loading efficiency is 4 to 30 times higher for the two-phase system, with the best advantage at lower applied field range. Transfections of CHO, COS, Melan C, and JTL lymphoid cells using pSV-beta-galactosidase (for CHO and COS), pBK-RSV-tyrosinase, and pCP4-fucosidase plasmids, respectively, by electroporation in the two-phase polymer system and the conventional single-phase electroporation method, are compared. The former method is far superior to the latter in terms of efficiency. The threshold and optimal field strengths for the former are significantly lower than those for the latter method, so the former method is more favorable in terms of equipment requirement and safety. Electrofusion efficiency in the two-phase system is comparable to that in polyethylene glycol suspension alone and is a significant improvement from the conventional electrofusion method with dielectrophoresis. The two-phase polymer method is, therefore, a valuable technique for gene delivery to a limited cell source, as in ex vivo gene therapy.     

Biophysical consequences of linker chemistry and polymer size on stealth erythrocytes: size does matter

Immunocamouflaged red blood cells (RBC) are produced by cell surface derivatization with methoxypolyethylene glycol (mPEG). These immunologically attenuated cells may reduce the risk of allosensitization in chronically transfused patients. To characterize the effects of differing linker chemistries and polymer lengths, RBC were modified with cyanuric chloride activated mPEG (C-mPEG 5 kDa), benzotriazole carbonate methoxyPEG (BTC-mPEG; 5 or 20 kDa) or N-hydroxysuccinimidyl ester of mPEG propionic acid (SPA-mPEG; 2, 5 or 20 kDa). Biophysical methods including particle electrophoresis and aqueous two-phase polymer partitioning were employed to compare the PEG derivatives. While C-mPEG was faster reacting, both BTC-mPEG and SPA-mPEG gave comparable findings after 1 h. Both PEG surface density and molecular mass had a large effect on RBC surface properties. Proportional changes in electrophoretic mobility and preferential phase partitioning were achieved by increasing either the quantity of surface PEG or the PEG molecular mass. In addition, two-phase partitioning may provide a means for efficiently removing unmodified or lightly modified (hence potentially immunogenic) RBC in the clinical setting. Furthermore, mPEG modification significantly inhibits cell-cell interaction as evidenced by loss of Rouleaux formation and, consequently, sedimentation rate. Importantly, BTC-mPEG 20 kDa RBC showed normal in vivo survival in mice at immunoprotective concentrations (up to 2 mM).     

Analysis of the phase behavior of the aqueous poly(ethylene glycol)-Ficoll system

The PEG-Ficoll polymer phase system is one that has been overlooked in the past for biotechnology applications because of the stability of its emulsions. However, new applications, such as emulsion coating of cells, are appearing that rely on this very property. Ficoll is highly polydisperse and multimodal with three distinct Ficoll peaks in gel permeation chromatography. As a result, the transition between one-phase and two-phase systems is blurred and the binodials obtained through turbidometric titration and tie-line analysis differ significantly. Moreover, since the three Ficoll peaks partition differently, tie-line analysis cannot be described by a simple model of the aqueous two-phase system. A simple modification to the model allowed for excellent fit, and this modification may prove well-suited for the many practical cases where aqueous two-phase systems fail to display parallel tie-lines as implicitly assumed in the simpler model.     

固定化青霉素酰化酶在光-pH敏感可回用两水相中裂解青霉素G为6-APA

两水相体系在发展中存在的关键问题是相体系回收困难.由于生产成本及降低污染的原因, 用过的相体系需要回收和重复使用.用环境敏感型溶解可逆聚合物形成可回用两水相体系是当前是为可行的回收方法。本文在光敏感可回用高聚物PNBC与pH敏感型可回用高聚物PADB形成的两水相体系中进行固定化青霉素酰化酶的相转移催化青霉素G产生6-APA的反应。在这个两水相体系中,通过优化,在1% NaCl 存在下,６－ＡＰＡ的分配系数可达5.78。催化动力学显示,达平衡的时间近7h,反应最高得率约85.3%（pH 7.8, 20℃）。较相近条件下的单水相反应得率提高近20%。在反应过程中,通过底物及产物的分配系数检测,发现底物分配系数变化不大,而产物6-APA及苯乙酸的分配系数发生很大变化,从而引起产物的得率变化。在两水相中,底物及产物主要分配在上相,固定化酶分配在下相,底物青霉素G进入下相经酶催化产生的6-APA及苯乙酸又转入上相,从而解除了青霉素酰化酶催化反应的底物及产物抑制作用,达到提高产物得率的效果。此外,采用固定化酶较固定化细胞效率高,占用下相体积小,较游离酶稳定性高,且完全单侧分配在下相。因此,在两水相中进行固定化酶的催化反应具有明显的优越性。形成两水相的高聚物PNBC通过488 nm 的激光照射或经滤光的450nm 光源照射得到回收;pH敏感型成相聚合物PADB可通等电点 4.1沉淀可实现循环利用,高聚物的回收率在95%-98%之间,按此回收率计算,聚合物可使用60次以上。     

Aqueous two-phase systems

Biphasic systems formed by mixing of two polymers or a polymer and a salt in water can be used for separation of cells, membranes, viruses, proteins, nucleic acids, and other biomolecules. The partitioning between the two phases is dependent on the surface properties and conformation of the materials, and also on the composition of the two-phase system. The mechanism of partitioning is, however, complex and not easily predicted. Aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS) have proven to be a useful tool for analysis of biomolecular and cellular surfaces and their interactions, fractionation of cell populations, product recovery in biotechnology, and so forth. Potential for environmental remediation has also been suggested. Because ATPS are easily scalable and are also able to hold high biomass load in comparison with other separation techniques, the application that has attracted most interest so far has been the large-scale recovery of proteins from crude feedstocks. As chemicals constitute the major cost factor for large-scale systems, use of easily recyclable phase components and the phase systems generated by a single-phase chemical in water are being studied.     

Ucon-benzoyl dextran aqueous two-phase systems: protein purification with phase component recycling

Benzoyl dextran with a degree of substitution of 0.18 was synthesized by reacting dextran T500 with benzoyl chloride. A new type of aqueous two-phase system composed of benzoyl dextran as bottom phase polymer and the random copolymer of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide (Ucon 50-HB-5100) as top phase polymer has been formed. The phase diagram for the system Ucon 50-HB-5100-benzoyl dextran with a degree of substitution of 0.18 was determined at room temperature. This two-phase system has been used to purify 3-phosphoglycerate kinase from bakers' yeast. The top-phase polymer (Ucon) can be separated from target enzyme by increasing the temperature. The bottom-phase polymer (benzyol dextran) could be recovered by addition of salt. Yeast homogenate was partitioned in a primary Ucon 50-HB-5100-benzoyl dextran aqueous two-phase system. After phase separation the top phase was removed and temperature-induced phase separation was used for formation of a water phase and a Ucon-rich phase. The benzoyl dextran-enriched bottom phase from the primary system was diluted, and the polymer was separated from water by addition of Na₂SO₄.     

Metastable region of phase diagram: optimum parameter range for processing ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene blends

Numerous studies suggest that two-phase morphology and thick interface are separately beneficial to the viscosity reduction and mechanical property maintainence of the matrix when normal molecular weight polymer (NMWP) is used for modification of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). Nevertheless, it is very difficult to obtain a UHMWPE/NMWP blend which may demonstrate both two-phase morphology and thick interface. In this work, dissipative particle dynamics simulations and Flory-Huggins theory are applied in predicting the optimum NMWP and the corresponding conditions, wherein the melt flowability of UHMWPE can be improved while its mechanical properties can also be retained. As is indicated by dissipative particle dynamics simulations and phase diagram calculated from Flory-Huggins theory, too small Flory-Huggins interaction parameter (χ) and molecular chain length of NMWP (N(NMWP)) may lead to the formation of a homogeneous phase, whereas very large interfacial tension and thin interfaces might also appear when parameters N(NMWP) and χ are too large. When these parameters are located in the metastable region of the phase diagram, however, two-phase morphology occurs and interfaces of the blends are extremely thick. Therefore, metastable state is found to be advisable for both the viscosity reduction and mechanical property improvement of the UHMWPE/NMWP blends.