Feasibility study for the fractionation of the major human immunoglobulin G subclasses using hydrophobic interaction membrane chromatography.

Human immunoglobulin G (IgG) consists of four subclasses, each having specific biological functions and physical properties. Fractionation of these subclasses is challenging, both at analytical and preparative scales. This paper examines the feasibility of separating the major IgG subclasses, i.e., IgG1 and IgG2, by hydrophobic interaction membrane chromatography using environment-responsive membranes. These were resolvable as separate peaks at appropriate eluting conditions. This method could potentially be developed further into a rapid and robust IgG subclass profiling technique, suitable for diagnostic applications. This method could also be used to produce specific subclass enriched IgG.