For over three decades, conjugating synthetic polymers to proteins has been investigated and exploited since the original discoveries of reduction in enzymatic degradation, renal excretion and immune responses. This area where material science meets bioscience is continually expanding, as existing limitations are addressed and further benefits are sought and realized.

Although synthetic polymers can be introduced to proteins with relative ease by targeting common amino acid residues, this usually leads to multi-site attachment, which results in ill-defined conjugates and in most cases, a corresponding loss of activity. Recent efforts have involved the design of conjugates using advanced coupling methods, resulting in well-defined conjugates whereby the polymers are introduced at specific positions in order to maintain activity. To capitalize on this approach, a high degree of control over the architecture and functionalization of the polymers is required, making living radical polymerization the perfect synthetic route.

The analysis of these materials can be complex, and needs to be rigorous & reliable throughout the entire workflow. A technique to determine whether the protein and the conjugate itself has degraded during the synthetic pathway, purification and storage processes to investigating the size, shape, mass and dispersity is highly desirable.

Size Exclusion Chromatography has long been the technique of choice for detecting and quantifying protein aggregation, polymers and conjugates, and the technique can be expanded through the use of advanced detectors such as Light Scattering and Viscometry.

This presentation will focus on the deployment of these techniques throughout the process & highlight complementary methodologies.

Subject Areas Covered in Presentation:

• GPC/SEC

• Controlled/Living Polymerization

• Light Scattering

• Functionalized polymers