Multimodal anion exchange matrices

1. A separation matrix comprising

a plurality of separation ligands defined by formula (I) immobilized on a support,

R 1 -L 1 -N(R 3 )-L 2 -R 2   (I)

wherein

L 1 is either a methylene group or a covalent bond;

R 1 and R 2 are each independently a five- or six-membered, substituted or non-substituted ring structure;

L 2 is either a methylene group or a covalent bond; and

R 3 is a methyl group, and

wherein said ligands in free form have an octanol-water distribution coefficient (1g P) of 1.8-5.

2. The separation matrix of claim 1 , wherein the ligands are immobilized via the amine group.

3. The separation matrix of claim 1 , wherein said ligands in free form have an octanol-water distribution coefficient (1g P) of 2-4.

4. The separation matrix of claim 1 , wherein R 2 is a substituted or non-substituted cyclohexyl ring structure.

5. The separation matrix of claim 1 , wherein R 2 comprises one or more methyl, methoxy or trifluorocarbon substituents on the ring structure.

6. The separation matrix of claim 1 , wherein R 2 comprises a substituent in the para position.

7. The separation matrix of claim 1 , wherein the ligands are defined by formula (IV),

8. The separation matrix of claim 1 , wherein R 1 is a substituted or non-substituted five-membered aliphatic ring structure.

9. The separation matrix of claim 1 , wherein L 1 is a methylene group.

10. The separation matrix of claim 1 , wherein the ligands are defined by formula (V)

11. The separation matrix of claim 1 , wherein the immobilized separation ligands are immobilized on the support Su via a spacer Sp, as defined in formula (VI)

12. The separation matrix of claim 11 , wherein the spacer Sp comprises a chain of 2-8 carbon atoms, optionally at least one of which interrupted by and ending in one or more ether groups and optionally substituted by one or more hydroxyl groups.

13. The separation matrix of claim 1 , wherein the support comprises porous particles.

14. The separation matrix of claim 1 , wherein the support comprises a porous membrane.

15. A method of separating one or more antibodies from one or more other compounds in a liquid sample, comprising the steps of

a) providing a mobile phase comprising said antibodies and other compound(s); and

b) contacting said mobile phase with a separation matrix according to claim 1 .

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the conductivity of said mobile phase is at least 10 mS/cm.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein said mobile phase comprises an antibody-containing eluate from a previous affinity chromatography step, ion exchange step, multimodal chromatography step, or hydrophobic interaction chromatography step.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the separation matrix is provided in a chromatography column, the mobile phase is passed through said column by at least one of gravity and pumping, and the antibodies are recovered in the flow-through of the column.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the separation matrix is provided in a chromatography column, in step b) the mobile phase is passed through said column by at least one of gravity and pumping and at least part of the antibodies adsorb to the column and in a further step c) an elution buffer is passed through the column and antibodies are recovered in the elution buffer after passage through the column.

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein in step b) a suspension of matrix particles is contacted with the mobile phase, in a further step c) the matrix particles are separated from the mobile phase by sedimentation, centrifugation or under the influence of a magnetic field and in an optional further step d) the antibodies are recovered in the separated mobile phase.