Hapten-Specific Insoluble Immunoabsorbents Prepared from Hide Powder (Collagen)

Abstract

Hapten-specific immunoabsorbents using bovine hide powder (an inexpensive material consisting largely of collagen) as the matrix were prepared by coupling it with hapten, and were used to isolate antibodies from rabbit anti-hapten sera. Both benzylpenicilloyl (BPO) and dinitrophenyl (DNP) hide powder had high absorptive capacities for antibody. Absorption and elution were specific. Antibody recoveries ranged from 75% to 100% when eluted with hapten. Antibody purity was high; specific precipitability was 95% to 100% for BPO and 45% to 86% for DNP. DNP antibody preparations contained hapten as an impurity, which appears to account for the low precipitability. BPO antibody preparations were virtually free of hapten. The immunoabsorbents are conveniently prepared, economical and stable. Hide powder may have wide applicability as an insoluble matrix for a variety of biologically important small and large molecules.