Thiophilic adsorption is based on the ability of some proteins, particularly immunoglobulins, to bind to an immobilized ligand that contains a sulfone group in close proximity to a thioether. Salts that interact with water molecules, such as potassium and ammonium sulfate, promote this binding by driving the protein into close proximity with the ligand. 

Table 6. Antibody Yields and Purity Levels using Pierce Thiophilic Adsorbent

Highlights:

• High capacity (20 mg/ml), good protein recovery and retention of antibody function
• Broad specificity toward immunoglobulins derived from various animal species (see Table above)
• Binds Chicken IgG (initially called IgY), unlike Protein A, Protein G, and Protein A/G
• Simple, rapid, one-step purification for monoclonal antibodies from ascites; easy to scale up
• Used to enrich the immunoglobulin fraction from serum or tissue culture supernatant
• Efficient alternative to ammonium sulfate precipitation for enriching antibodies from crude samples
• Gentle elution conditions yield concentrated, salt-free immunoglobulin at near neutral pH
• High degree of purity

References:

1. Palmer, D.A., et al. (1994). Flow injection immunoassay for albumin using thiophilic gels. Anal. Biochem., 222, 281-283.
2. Porath, J., Maisano, F. and Belew, M. (1985). Thiophilic adsorption – a new method for protein fractionation. FEBS Lett. 185, 306-310.
3. Hutchens, T.W. and Porath, J. (1986). Thiophilic adsorption of immunoglobulins – analysis of conditions optimal for selective immobilization and purification. Anal. Biochem. 159, 217-226.
4. Belew, M., Juntti, N., Larsson, A. and Porath, J. (1987). A one-step purification method for monoclonal antibodies based on salt-promoted adsorption chromatography on a ‘thiophilic’ adsorbent. J. Immunol. Meth. 102, 173-182.
5. Hutchens, T.W. and Porath, J. (1987). Thiophilic adsorption: A comparison of model protein behavior. Biochem. 26, 7199-7204.
6. Hutchens, T.W. and Porath, J. (1987). Protein recognition of immobilized ligands: Promotion of selective adsorption. Clin. Chem. 3319, 1502-1508.
7. Oscarsson, S. and Porath, J. (1989). Covalent chromatography and salt-promoted thiophilic adsorption. Anal. Biochem. 176, 330-337.
8. Porath, J. (1987). United States Patent No. 4,696,980.
9. Nopper, B., Kohen, F. and Wilchek, M. (1989). A thiophilic adsorbent for the one-step high-performance liquid chromatography purification of monoclonal antibodies. Anal. Biochem. 180, 66-71.
10. Lihme, A. and Heegaard, P.M.H. (1990). Thiophilic adsorption chromatography: The separation of serum proteins. Anal. Biochem. 192, 64-69.
11. Oscarsson, S., Chaga, G. and Porath, J. (1991). Thiophilic adsorbents for RIA and ELISA procedures. J. Immunol. Meth. 143, 143-149.

* T-Gel Absorbent is available in bulk quantities for manufacturing applications.