Interfacially Polymerized Particles with Heterostructured Nanopores for Glycopeptide Separation

Porous polymer materials are extensively used for biomolecule separation. However, conventional homogeneous porous polymer materials cannot efficiently separate specific low-abundance biomolecules from complex samples. Here, particles fabricated by emulsion interfacial polymerization featuring heterostructured nanopores with tunable size are reported, which can be used to realize low-abundance glycopeptide (GP) separation from complex biofluids. The heterostructured surface inside the nanopores allows solvent-dependent local adsorption of biomolecules onto hydrophilic or hydrophobic regions. Low-abundance hydrophilic GPs in complex biofluids can be efficiently separated via the hydrophilic region of nanopores in low-polarity solvent after the hydrophobic region removes high-abundance hydrophobic proteins and non-glycopeptides in high-polarity solvent. It is expected that these particles with heterostructured nanopores can be used for separation of nucleic acids, saccharides, and proteins, and downstream clinical diagnosis.