Affinity Chromatography: Principles and Applications

Since the inception of affinity chromatography 50 years ago (Cuatrecasas et al, 1968), traditional purification techniques based on pH, ionic strength, or temperature have been replaced by this sophisticated approach. It has been stated that over 60% of all purification techniques involve affinity chromatography (Lowe, 1996). The wide applicability of this method is based on the fact that any given biomolecule that one wishes to purify usually has an inherent recognition site through which it can be bound by a natural or artificial molecule. Thus, we can say that affinity chromatography is principally based on the molecular recognition of a target molecule by a molecule bound to a column.