An optimized procedure for the capture, fractionation and proteomic analysis of proteins using hydrogel nanoparticles

We have developed an optimized procedure using dual size exclusion / affinity hydrogel nanoparticles to capture and comparatively analyze low molecular mass proteins directly from biological samples. The method described facilitates charge and size-dependent protein binding, direct analysis by mass spectrometry or other means and is highly reproducible. A comparative analysis of the low molecular mass proteome of plasma following freeze-thaw immediately after venipuncture is used to illustrate proof-of-concept. The technique described is rapid and may be easily reproduced in any laboratory.