Study on the Cytochrome C Separation Based on Silica Coated Magnetic Nanoparticles

A simple and fast method for separation of cytochrome C (Cyt-C) has been reported based on the electrostatic adsorption between silica coated magnetic nanoparticles (SMNPs) and Cyt-C. When the solution pH is above 6.0, but below the isoelectric point of Cyt-C (pi = 10.6), SMNPs possess zeta potential below -30 mV and can electrically adsorb positively charged Cyt-C to form SMNPs-Cyt-C complex. The complex was captured and enriched by a magnet for the magnetite core of SMNPs. Then the adsorbed Cyt-C could be eluted simply by turning the solution pH below 4.0 to change the zeta potential of SMNPs. And the SMNPs was separated and recycled simply with a magnet. Cyt-C has been selectively separated from the model binary mixtures of Cyt-C and bovine serum albumin, and ternary protein mixture of Cyt-C, bovine serum albumin and immuno-glubin G respectively by using this method. And it was also used to extract Cyt-C from fresh pig heart.