Application of Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy in Bioseparation Studies: Visual Characterization of Protein Adsorption Behaviors

Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) as an innovative technique has been widely used in biological research and it offers unique opportunities to visualize distribution and transportation of proteins in various media. For protein chromatographic purification studies, CLSM can further provide direct and detailed information about protein adsorption behaviors. This review highlighted the application of CLSM in investigating protein adsorption processes including single-component and multi-component studies in finite bath adsorption and real-time observation of protein adsorption in the micro-column with various adsorbents. Factors such as liquid phase conditions and the limitation of CLSM application in protein adsorption were discussed. The adsorption profiles in different adsorbents, such as the widely observed shrinking core profile, the overshoot adsorption profile as well as some special profiles were compared and discussed.