ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Micropreparative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis for identification and purification of biomarkers in COVID-19 patients

Marziyeh Shahab, Maryam Ijadi Bajestani, Maryam Davardoostmanesh, and Hossein Ahmadzadeh

Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

E-mail: h.ahmadzadeh@um.ac.ir

Received: 4 February 2025  Accepted: 17 August 2025

Abstract:

Abstract

The pandemic of COVID-19 respiratory disease in 2019 has increased the urgent need for an effective identification and screening method. Since, the disease includes several phases, biomarkers identification can aid the patient to predict the severity. It is unclear whether all asymptomatic patients produce measurable antibody titers indicative of infection, because the concentration of the biomarkers changes in different stages of disease. Identification of asymptomatic patients helps in the management and prevention of this pandemic. This work reports the application of micropreparative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (MP-PAGE) for the detection, separation, and extraction of COVID-19-specific antibodies (IgG and IgM) directly from human’s sera. Unlike conventional diagnostic methods, MP-PAGE is a label-free, cost-effective platform that enables both diagnostic identification and preparative purification of viral biomarkers with minimal sample processing. The method demonstrated high analytical sensitivity, achieving a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.07 mg/mL under optimized conditions. Distinct electropherogram profiles allowed for the identification of antibody responses in both symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals, addressing a critical gap in early and silent case detection. The diagnostic outcomes were validated against RT-PCR, showing strong concordance (κ = 0.72). Beyond its diagnostic utility, MP-PAGE enables the extraction of functional antibodies, supporting applications in therapeutic antibody development and vaccine monitoring. Its simplicity, low cost, and scalability make it particularly suitable for deployment in resource-limited settings, while its potential for miniaturization offers promise for point-of-care testing. This work positions MP-PAGE as a powerful, dual-purpose platform for serological analysis, with broad implications for pandemic response, biomedical research, and global health preparedness.

Graphical abstract

Keywords: Protein; Micropreparative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis; COVID-19; Antibody

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-025-04322-y

Chemical Papers 79 (12) 8417–8428 (2025)