A novel application of thermo-responsive polymer to affinity precipitation of polysaccharide.

The lectin receptors concanavalin A (ConA) and wheat germ lectin (WGL) were successfully conjugated to a thermo-responsive hydrogel polymer (poly-N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) as an affinity ligand. The coupling efficiencies of the ConA and WGL to PNIPAAm were 5.1% and 44%, respectively. These lectin receptor-polymer conjugates were then tested for their efficiency in purification of various polysaccharides or polysaccharide-containing compounds such as beta-glucan. Results indicated that these conjugates separated various polysaccharides from a complex mixture. The use of a thermo-responsive polymer in low-temperature purification of potentially heat-labile glycoproteins is advantageous. Additionally, other affinity ligands could be coupled to the polymer for separation of the respective bioactive molecules.