Surface-initiated ARGET ATRP of poly(glycidyl methacrylate) from macroporous hydrogels via oil-in-water high internal phase emulsion templates for specific capture of Enterovirus 71

Surface-initiated activators regenerated by electron transfer atom transfer radical polymerization (ARGET ATRP) was applied to graft poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PGMA) brushes from macroporous hydrogel templating from oil-in-water high internal phase emulsion (O/W HIPE), and the grafted hydrogel was further heparinized as stationary phase of affinity chromatography for Enterovirus 71 (EV71) purification. Acrylate functional monomer containing isobutyl bromide (HEMA-BiBB) was synthesized and introduced into oil phase for macroporous hydrogel with ATRP initiator-anchored surface. With the increase of HEMA-BIBB dosage, the average pore size of hydrogel increased and the specific surface area decreased. Bromine atomic percent of hydrogel reached the maximum of 1.56 % when the HEMA-BiBB dosage was 1.0 g. The corresponding heparinized hydrogel possessed the highest amount of carboxyl group (56.8 μmol per column). Interconnected macropore (1.71 μm) and high porosity (84.2 %) of heparinized hydrogel ensured an excellent permeability (2.1 × 10⁻¹³ m²). Meanwhile, grafted PGMA brushes afforded abundant epoxy groups for immobilizing high density of heparin, which endowed hydrogel with outstanding adsorption capability for EV71. Immobilized heparin ligands were competent in specific capture of EV71 by receptor-ligand interaction. Besides, enhanced hydrophilicity of heparinized hydrogel avoided the irreversible and nonspecific adsorption of proteins. As a result, heparinized hydrogel demonstrated superior adsorption selectivity and capability for EV71 (dynamic adsorption capacity: 1275 ng per column, recovery: 86.2 %). The developed heparinized PGMA-grafted macroporous hydrogel was promising to be applied in the large-scale production of EV71 for vaccine industry.