An improved, filtration-based process to purify functional mucins from mucosal tissues with high yields

Over the last few decades, mucin glycoproteins have gained increasing attention in the fields of medical research and (bio-)medical engineering. On the one hand, this is driven by the fact that irregularities in the composition and functionality of mucosal systems are often associated with a broad range of diseases including various types of cancer, cystic fibrosis, and Sjo center dot gren's syndrome. On the other hand, mucin glycoproteins possess a number of favorable properties such as excellent hydration and lubricity as well as anti-viral and anti-bacterial activity. Taken together, the intrinsic properties of mucins make them a potent candidate for both, basic research and biomedical applications. Accordingly, the need for functional mucins has been steadily increasing over the last few years, and this trend can be expected to continue. In this publication, we demonstrate a procedure for the purification of high-quality mucins that is based on consecutive filtration steps and allows for a cost and time efficient isolation of functional mucins in high yields.

Automated summary

Mucin glycoproteins have been increasingly studied in medical research and biomedical engineering due to their exceptional properties for treating and preventing various diseases. The demand for functional mucins has been steadily increasing in recent years, highlighting the importance of research on high-quality mucin purification.