Monolithic macroporous hydrogels prepared from oil-in-water high internal phase emulsions for high-efficiency purification of Enterovirus 71

Monolithic macroporous hydrogels was prepared from oil-in-water high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs) and heparinized using polydopamine (PDA) and polyethyleneimine (PEI) as mediators, and then used as a support of affinity chromatography to purify Enterovirus 71 (EV71) from culture supernatant. Our innovative strategy was characterized by two remits. (1) Interconnected macropores (1–5 μm) and high porosity (76–93%) of hydrophilic hydrogels ensured an excellent permeability (6.95 × 10⁻¹³ m²); (2) PDA/PEI composite provided abundant amino groups to immobilize heparin on macroporous hydrogels and increased the amount of carboxyl group to 46.5 μmol per column. A selective recognition of EV71 was achieved by receptor-ligand interaction between heparin and EV71. The adsorption capacity for EV71 was 986.0 ng per column and the recovery for EV71 reached a maximum of 79.9%. It was verified that these high performances were ascribed to the high density of heparin immobilized via PDA and PEI as mediators. Our innovative strategy provided a useful paradigm as a preparation method for heparin-affinity chromatographic medium for virus purification.