Abstract: The present invention provides a degradable microbead comprising a polymer molecule crosslinked by a crosslinking agent, wherein the polymer molecule and/or the crosslinking agent comprises a sensitive chemical bond that is cleavable through a chemical and/or light treatment, thereby resulting in the degradation of the degradable microbead. The present invention also provides a method of separating a target protein from a sample. By using the degradation of the degradable microbead to replace an elution step in protein purification, it is possible to select a combination of target protein and affinity ligand with a stronger affinity, thereby improving the protein purification efficiency. The method is especially suitable for the high-throughput preparation of multiple protein samples, for example providing a protein sample for electron microscope observation or mass spectrometry measurement.

Abstract: The present invention provides a degradable microbead comprising a polymer molecule crosslinked by a crosslinking agent, wherein the polymer molecule and/or the crosslinking agent comprises a sensitive chemical bond that is cleavable through a chemical and/or light treatment, thereby resulting in the degradation of the degradable microbead. The present invention also provides a method of separating a target protein from a sample. By using the degradation of the degradable microbead to replace an elution step in protein purification, it is possible to select a combination of target protein and affinity ligand with a stronger affinity, thereby improving the protein purification efficiency. The method is especially suitable for the high-throughput preparation of multiple protein samples, for example providing a protein sample for electron microscope observation or mass spectrometry measurement.