Macroporous cellulose microspheres with high specific surface area via semi-dissolved chitosan templating for protein separation

The conflict between macroporous structure and high specific surface area strongly limited the dynamic adsorption performance of chromatographic media. Here, macroporous and high-specific-surface-area cellulose microspheres (PCMs) are prepared by using semi-dissolved chitosan as a dual-functional template and subsequently functionalized with diethylaminoethyl (DEAE) as anion exchangers for protein separation. The dual-functional template strategy leverages dissolved chitosan nanofibers as meso/micropore templates and the undissolved chitosan particles as macropore templates. The macropores of DEAE-PCMs (average size: 0.4–1.2 μm) efficiently decrease mass transfer resistance for fast uptake kinetics. The high specific surface area (272.34 m 2 /g) provides sufficient ligand sites for ensuring exceptional adsorption capacities. Therefore, the chitosan bifunctional templated PCMs, possessing a macro/meso/microporous structure, are promising candidates for high-performance chromatographic media.