  Stationary phase plays a crucial role in the operation of a protein
chromatography column. Conventional resins composed of acrylic polymers and
their derivatives contribute to heterogeneity of the packing of stationary
phase inside these columns. Alternative polymer combinations through customized
surface functionalization schemes which consist of multiple steps using static
coating techniques are well known. In comparison, it is hypothesized that a
single-step scheme is sufficient to obtain porous adsorbents as stationary
phase for tuning surface morphology and protein immobilization. To overcome the
challenge of heterogeneous packing and ease of fabrication at a laboratory
scale, a change in the form factor of separation materials has been proposed in
the form of functional copolymer surfaces. In the present work, an amphiphilic,
block copolymer, poly(methyl methacrylate-co-methacrylic acid) has been chosen
and fully characterized for its potential usage in protein chromatography.
Hydrophilicity of the acrylic copolymer and abundance of carboxyl groups
inherently on the copolymer surface have been successfully demonstrated through
contact angle measurements, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and X-ray
photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) studies. Morphological studies indicate
presence of a microporous region (nearly 1 to 1.5 $\mu$m pore size) that could
be beneficial as a cation exchange media as part of the stationary phase in
protein chromatography.
