In conclusion,
Addition of Phe or Tyr amino acid monomers during conjugation of
Brij-O20 micelles via the
[(bathophenanthroline)3:Fe2+]
amphiphilic complex, appears to weaken the interaction of captured IgG’s
with the nonionic detergent matrix at pH 6.3. This is best demonstrated
by the ability to efficiently extract hIgG (82-85%yield) at pH 6.3
whereas in the absence of amino acid monomers, overall process yield is
only 54%. Using Phe or Tyr in antibody purification protocols is
attractive: the amino acid monomers are (i) non-toxic; (ii) relatively
inexpensive; and importantly, (iii) do not lead to antibody
denaturation. Antibody aggregation which can occur at low pH is thereby
avoided.