Advances Achieved by Ionic-Liquid-Based Materials as Alternative Supports and Purification Platforms for Proteins and Enzymes

Abstract

Ionic liquids (ILs) have been applied in several fields in which enzymes and proteins play a noteworthy role, for instance in biorefinery, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical sciences, among others. Despite their use as solvents and co-solvents, their combination with materials for protein- and enzyme-based applications has raised significant attention in the past few years. Among them, significant advances were brought by supported ionic liquids (SILs), in which ILs are introduced to modify the surface and properties of materials, e.g., as ligands when covalently bond or when physiosorbed. SILs have been mainly investigated as alternative supports for enzymes in biocatalysis and as new supports in preparative liquid chromatography for the purification of high-value proteins and enzymes. In this manuscript, we provide an overview on the most relevant advances by using SILs as supports for enzymes and as purification platforms for a variety of proteins and enzymes. The interaction mechanisms occurring between proteins and SILs/ILs are highlighted, allowing the design of efficient processes involving SILs. The work developed is discussed in light of the respective development phase and innovation level of the applied technologies. Advantages and disadvantages are identified, as well as the missing links to pave their use in relevant applications.

Ionic-liquid-based approaches to improve biopharmaceuticals downstream processing and formulation

“…ABS comprise two non-miscible aqueous-rich phases, formed by polymer-polymer, polymer-salt, or salt-salt combinations ( Carapito, 2019 ; Castro et al, 2019 ; Bento et al, 2021 ). Above particular concentrations of the phase-forming components, the systems separate into two coexisting phases, each of them enriched in one component ( Carapito, 2019 ; Castro et al, 2020 ).…”

“…The field of SPE involving IL-modified materials, known as Supported Ionic Liquids (SILs), is gaining increasing traction. SILs are usually obtained by the immobilization of ILs in a suitable solid support, e.g., silica or polymeric support, combining the ILs properties with the advantages exhibited by materials (e.g., high specific surface area, and mechanical properties, among others) ( Lemus et al, 2011 ; Pedro et al, 2019 ; Bento et al, 2021 ). This led to a modified material with adjustable properties that are coupled to an efficient immobilization on a confined environment.…”

“…They can be considered “designer surfaces” since the properties of ILs are transferred to the solid surfaces, thus constituting attractive materials ( Fehrmann et al, 2014 ). Depending on the interactions established between the IL and the support material, the immobilization of these solvents can be attained by two pathways ( Tavares et al, 2019 ): physical confinement of the IL in the materials, i.e., physisorption, through van der Waals and dipole forces; or by 2) covalent bonding between the support and the IL, i.e., chemisorption ( Tavares et al, 2019 ; Bento et al, 2021 ). SILs obtained by the first approach are generally present as a multilayer in which properties of the neat ILs are almost maintained, being mainly applied in gas capture ( Giacalone and Gruttadauria, 2016 ; Bento et al, 2021 ).…”

Preparation and Characterization of Magnetic Metal–Organic Frameworks Functionalized by Ionic Liquid as Supports for Immobilization of Pancreatic Lipase

“…In addition, PPL-IL-Fe 3 O 4 @UiO-66-NH 2 exhibited the highest residual activity in the temperature range of 45–55 °C. The magnetic MOF composite support and IL modification helped to maintain the conformation of the immobilized enzyme and provided greater temperature tolerance [ 38 ].…”

Influence of Selective Extraction/Isolation of Heme/Hemoglobin with Hydrophobic Imidazolium Ionic Liquids on the Precision and Accuracy of Cotinine ELISA Test

“…Another possibility of the purification and separation of proteins offers extraction systems based on ionic liquids such as liquid–liquid extraction utilizing hydrophobic ionic liquids, two-phase aqueous systems (ABS) consisting of hydrophilic ionic liquids, and supported ionic liquids (SILs), in which ILs are modifying different solid materials as covalently bonded ligands. Excellent review articles [ 53 , 54 ] have been provided on this subject. In 2008, Cheng et al [ 55 ] for the first time extracted hemoglobin from serum samples by a new synthesized ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-trimethylsilyl-imidazolium hexafluorophosphate (BtmsimPF 6 ).…”