RESUMO
This study proposed the development of a monolithic supermacroporous affinity column for direct capture of lactoperoxidase, a glycoprotein present in milk, whey, and colostrum, with several applications due to its wide antimicrobial activity. A poly(acrylamide)-based cryogel was produced by radical co-polymerization of monomers in frozen aqueous solution and activated with p-aminobenzenesulfonamide as a ligand for specific interaction with the lactoperoxidase. The axial liquid dispersion coefficients at different liquid flow rates were determined by measuring residence time distributions using the tracer pulse-response method. The axial dispersion coefficient was low and the height equivalent to theoretical plate was not dependent on the flow velocity. The adsorptive capacity of affinity cryogel was studied as a function of flow velocity and the best condition was 0.9 cm/min. The response surface methodology was applied to optimize the capture of the enzyme, as a function of pH and salt concentration. Higher purification factor value was found at a salt concentration of 80 mmol/L and pH of 8.0 (p < 0.05). There was no influence of the variables under study on the yield (p > 0.05). The results indicated that affinity cryogel is a promising chromatography support for the use in high-throughput one-step purification of lactoperoxidase from whey.