Surface imprinted polymers recognizing amino acid chirality

A highly enantioselective polymer was prepared for the separation of optically active tryptophan methylester by a surface molecular imprinting technique. An organophosphorus compound was found to be effective as a functional host molecule for recognizing the chirality of the amino acid ester. The imprinted polymers exhibited a higher template effect toward the corresponding imprinted tryptophan methylester than its isomer and analogues, while a reference polymer prepared without an imprinting molecule did not show any selectivity toward the enantiomers. The enantioselective recognition was quantitatively evaluated by determination of the binding constants of the D ‐ and L ‐tryptophan methylester to the imprinted polymers. Furthermore, the mechanism for producing enantioselectivity was deduced from FTIR and ¹H‐NMR spectra. Based on the results obtained we concluded that the enantiomeric selectivity was mainly caused by electrostatic and hydrogen bonding interactions between the functional organophosphorus molecule and the target tryptophan methylester on the polymer surface. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 78: 695–703, 2000     

Effect of the mimic structure on the molecular recognition properties of molecularly imprinted polymers for ochratoxin A prepared by a fragmental approach

In this work the fragmental approach was used to prepare several molecularly imprinted ethylene dimethacrylate-co-methacrylic acid polymers with molecular recognition towards the mycotoxin ochratoxin A, with the aim of searching for simpler mimic templates than the well-known N-(4-chloro-1-hydroxy-2-naphthoylamido)-(l)-phenylalanine. The screening for binding of two different kinds of ochratoxin-related molecules was performed by HPLC analysis. Ochratoxin A and the mimic templates were eluted in acetonitrile–acetic acid (0.1% v/v) and the imprinting factor was measured for all the ligands on all the columns packed with the imprinted polymers. The experimental results show that changes to the amino acidic sub-structure or the presence/absence of a chlorine atom in position 4 on the naphthalene ring system does not affect the molecular recognition of ochratoxin A by the resulting imprinted polymer. On the contrary, the presence of the bulky naphthalene ring system in the mimic template seems to be necessary to preserve the molecular recognition of ochratoxin. This binding behavior was found to be compatible with in silico simulations of the complexation between some of the mimic templates and molecules of methacrylic acid. The use of the mimic template N-(1-hydroxy-2-naphthoylamido)-(L)-phenylalanine seems to represent a synthetically simple approach to the preparation of imprinted polymers with molecular recognition properties towards ochratoxin A.     

RNA nucleoside recognition by phthalocyanine-based molecularly imprinted polymers

Highly selective molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) having a phthalocyanine-based recognition centre as receptors for RNA nucleoside were prepared. In particular, a zinc phthalocyanine peripherally substituted with methacrylic groups was synthesized and utilized as functional monomer in combination with methacrylic acid (MAA) to form polymers with the aim to obtain MIPs having improved binding capacity and selectivity for nucleosides. Tri-O-acetyladenosine (TOAA) was utilized as model template in the preparation of the MIPs. The corresponding non metallated phthalocyanine was also prepared and used as functional monomer for the preparation of the MIPs in order to understand the role of the Zinc(II) ion in the binding capacity of the polymers towards the template molecule. The MIP prepared by using both the zinc phthalocyanine and MAA showed higher binding ability towards TOAA compared to the MIPs prepared using only MAA or its combination with the non metallated phthalocyanine. The results obtained suggest that the nucleoside is specifically bound to the polymer through multi-point interactions involving both the coordination of the nucleoside to the metal of the phthalocyanine and hydrogen bonding/electrostatic interactions with MAA and the modifiers linked to the phthalocyanines. As for the selectivity, the MIPs exhibited relative high binding affinities for TOAA while they did not show any binding capacity for the other RNA nucleosides.     

Morphologies and binding characteristics of molecularly imprinted polymers prepared by precipitation polymerization

Molecularly imprinted polymers using L ‐2‐chloromandelic acid as templates were prepared by precipitation polymerization. The polymer particles exhibited a regular shape in the nanoscale range; moreover, the size and the uniformity of the particles were influenced by the concentration of monomers, polymerization temperature, types and concentrations of initiators. The experimental binding tests indicated that the nanospherical imprinted polymers possessed higher specific affinity to templates in comparison with traditional imprinted polymers prepared by bulk polymerization. Two classes of specific binding sites in the polymer matrix were investigated by the Scatchard method and ‘Hyperchem’ simulation studies. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry     

Molecularly imprinted polymer microspheres prepared by precipitation polymerization using a sacrificial covalent bond

Molecularly imprinted polymer microspheres were prepared by precipitation polymerization using a sacrificial covalent bond. In the present model, cholesteryl (4‐vinyl)phenyl carbonate was used as a template monomer. The imprinted microspheres were prepared using ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EDMA) and divinylbenzene (DVB) as crosslinker. The base‐labile carbonate ester bond was easily hydrolyzed to leave imprinted cavities in the resulting polymers. Radioligand binding analysis, elemental analysis, and scanning electron microscopy were used to characterize the imprinted materials. Imprinted microspheres prepared from DVB crosslinker had larger and more defined spherical shape, and displayed better imprinting effect than did the EDMA‐based microparticles. For comparison, imprinted bulk polymers were also prepared in the same reaction solvent as that used in precipitation polymerization. Elemental analysis results indicated that imprinted microspheres contained more template monomer units than bulk materials. The efficiency of template removal by hydrolysis treatment for microspheres was also higher than that for bulk polymers. For DVB‐based polymers, imprinted microspheres displayed higher specific cholesterol uptake than did the corresponding bulk polymer. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 99: 1390–1398, 2006     

Comonomer effects on binding performances and morphology of acrylate-based imprinted polymers

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of different functional groups of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) on the binding characteristics towards a specific template molecule by examining selectivity and recognition processes. Several non-covalent theophylline imprinted polymers (TIPs) were prepared by using only methacrylic acid (MAA), or MAA and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) comonomer, or MAA and acrylamide (ACM) comonomer. In all cases, a high amount of ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EDMA) as crosslinker existed in the medium. The highest selective theophylline binding of TIPs was found to be 61%, 41% and 40% for MAA/EDMA, MAA/HEMA/EDMA and MAA/ACM/EDMA systems, respectively. The use of a comonomer (ACM or HEMA) reduced the binding performance of the MAA/EDMA polymer matrix, probably due to the monomer-monomer association and morphological differences. Results obtained from the batch binding experiments demonstrated that all of the TIPs have sites that have selective binding ability for theophylline, but not to another structurally similar molecule, caffeine. According to the Langmuir isotherm model, a heterogeneous distribution of binding sites was observed in the polymers. The maximum association constant and binding site density were computed as 2.3 × 10² mM⁻¹ and 8.6 μmol/g, respectively, for copolymer of MAA/EDMA under the examined concentration range.     

Molecular imprinting of fructose using a polymerizable benzoboroxole: Effective complexation at pH 7.4

Covalent molecularly imprinted polymers against d-fructose employing 5-methacrylamido-2-hydroxymethylphenylboronic acid as functional monomer and trimethylpropane trimethacrylate (TRIM) as the crosslinking agent were prepared by a conventional radical bulk polymerization (MIP-BX(Fru)). Batch binding studies for fructose in aqueous buffers containing 10% methanol revealed that the binding capability of MIP-BX(Fru) is paramount compared to a MIP prepared with vinylphenylboronic acid MIP-BA(Fru). Especially, at the biological important pH-value of 7.4 the rebinding of fructose to the MIP-BX(Fru) is with 60 nmol per mg polymer about 3.2 higher compared to the MIP-BA(Fru). A pinacol imprinted polymer was also investigated and showed in case of MIP-BX still an imprinting of 1.7 at pH 7.4 whereas MIP-BA did not show a difference. Cross-reactivity studies at pH 7.4 show the shape-selectivity of the MIP-BX(Fru) in the order of l-fructose, sorbitol, glucose and sucrose.     

Molecular Imprinting by 4-Hydroxybenzoic Acid: A Two-Site Model

4-Hydroxybenzoic acid (4HBA) imprinted polymer was synthesized with the functional monomer, acrylamide, and the crosslinking agent, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, in acetonitrile. Hydrogen bonding between the template and the monomer not only controls the template molecules in and out of the binding sites, but also contributes to special binding sites in the resulting polymer resin. Batch analyses showed that the 4HBA-imprinted polymer has a special affinity for the para-substituted hydroxybenzoic acid, but not for its meta-substituted isomer (3HBA), nor for benzoic acid (BA). The binding behavior of 4HBA can be interpreted with a simple two-site model with one kind of site in the resin being special for 4HBA and the other kind being general with similar affinities for 4HBA, 3HBA, and BA. These general binding sites found in both the imprinted resin and the non-imprinted reference resin have greater affinity, but are less numerous than the sites unique to the imprinted resin.     

Molecularly imprinted polymers via living radical polymerization: Relating increased structural homogeneity to improved template binding parameters

This work examined imprinted polymer networks prepared via controlled/living radical polymerization (LRP) and conventional radical polymerization (CRP) on chain growth, network formation, and efficiency of producing molecularly imprinted, macromolecular memory sites for the template molecule, diclofenac sodium. LRP extended the reaction-controlled regime of the polymerization reaction and formed more homogeneous polymer chains and networks with smaller mesh sizes. In addition, LRP negated the effect of the template on polymer chain growth resulting in polymers with a more consistent PDI independent of template concentration in the pre-polymerization solution. Improved network homogeneity within imprinted poly(HEMA-co-DEAEM-co-PEG200DMA) networks prepared via LRP resulted in a 38% increase in template binding affinity and 43% increase in the template binding over imprinted networks prepared via CRP and a 97% increase in affinity and 130% increase in capacity over non-imprinted networks prepared by LRP. By varying certain parameters, it was possible to create imprinted networks with even higher template binding affinities (155% over non-imprinted) and capacities (261% over non-imprinted). This work is the first to conclusively demonstrate that the observed improvement in binding parameters in weakly crosslinked, imprinted polymer networks could be explained by the more uniform molecular weight evolution associated with the LRP mechanism and the longer lifetime of an active polymer chain relative to the total polymerization time, which allowed for the formation of a more homogenous imprinted polymer network.     

焦性没食子酸分子印迹聚合物的制备与吸附特征研究

以焦性没食子酸为模板分子,丙烯酸为功能单体,甲醇为溶剂,研究了模板分子与功能单体的结合比例,表明焦性没食子酸和丙烯酸之间通过氢键形成1∶1型配合物。在模板分子与功能单体、交联剂物质的量的比为1∶4∶20的条件下,采用沉淀聚合法制备了焦性没食子酸分子印迹聚合物微球。静态吸附实验表明,可制备出吸附量大且特异性识别能力较高的分子印迹聚合物,对焦性没食子酸有较高的亲和性和选择性。采用恒温振荡平衡吸附法以及Scatchard分析研究了聚合物的吸附特征,结果表明焦性没食子酸分子印迹聚合物在水环境下存在2种吸附位点,最大表观吸附量分别为7.5516μg/mg和11.9225μg/mg,平衡离解常数分别为9.2720×10-3mmol/L和0.1892 mmol/L。     

Fluorescent molecularly imprinted polymer studied by time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) with template-selective recognition sites and incorporated fluorosensor were prepared against adenosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP). The time-resolved fluorescence decay analysis was used to investigate the specificity and affinity of the binding of template molecules to the MIP. The fluorescence decays were modelled in terms of lifetime distributions and two fluorescence lifetimes were observed for the MIPs. The lifetime distributions are interpreted in terms of the heterogeneity of the functionalised imprinted cavities. Quenching of fluorescence of the imprinted polymer with increasing concentration of aqueous cAMP was observed from the fluorescence lifetime parameters data. The mechanisms of interactions between the cAMP and fluorosensor molecules inside the imprinted cavity in comparison with the interactions in solution are discussed.     

Recognition of 5‐fluorouracil by thermosensitive magnetic surface molecularly imprinted microspheres designed using a computational approach

Thermosensitive magnetic surface molecularly imprinted polymer microspheres based on thermosensitive monomer n ‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) are applied for the recognition of 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU). A computational analysis is used to predict the interaction sites between 5‐FU and NIPAM, the stoichiometry of the synthesis procedure, and the affinity of imprinted cavities toward 5‐FU. Due to hydrogen bond interactions, a stable complex configuration of 5‐FU and NIPAM shows a binding energy of ?46.50 kJ/mol confirming the suitability of imprinting 5‐FU into thermosensitive polymer network. After optimization, the appropriate stoichiometry of 5‐FU to NIPAM is set to 1:4 during the preparation process. The simulated imprinted cavities show affinity toward 5‐FU, with a binding energy of ?112.24 kJ/mol. A preliminary experimental evaluation for the drug recognition of thermosensitive magnetic surface molecularly imprinted polymer microspheres is made, obtaining an adsorption capacity of 21.72 mg/g at 25 °C. Pseudo‐second‐order kinetics well describes the adsorption process. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017 , 134 , 45468.     

Computer simulation and synthesis of stimuli‐responsive polymer by sol‐gel for selective recognition of (4‐chloro‐2‐methylphenoxy)acetic acid

A novel photoresponsive functional monomer bearing a siloxane polymerizable group and azobenzene moieties was synthesized, and then photoresponsive molecularly imprinted sol‐gel polymers were successfully fabricated from the synthesized functional monomer, using (4‐chloro‐2‐methylphenoxy)acetic acid (MCPA) as a molecular template. The photoisomerization properties of the functional monomer are retained after incorporation into the rigid three‐dimensional crosslinked polymer matrix. The template is then removed from the resulting polymer to generate pores, which are complementary to the template in shape, size and functionality. The substrate affinity of the molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) receptor sites is photoswitchable. This can be attributed to the photoisomerization of azobenzene chromophores within the MIP receptors, resulting in alteration of their geometry and the spatial arrangement of their binding functionalities. The binding affinity of the imprinted recognition sites was switchable by alternate irradiation with UV and visible light, suggesting that azobenzene groups located inside the binding sites could be used as chemical sensors and the trans–cis isomerization could regulate the affinity for MCPA. To study the hydrogen bond interactions between template molecules and functional monomer, computational molecular modeling was employed. The data indicate that the design of the MIP is rational. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Detection of functional states of molecularly imprinted thin films with multi-cycling nanoindentation

Molecular imprinting is a chemical technique for the production of molecule-specific cavities. Spin casting with amino acids, aromatic molecules, carbohydrates or pesticides used as template molecules produces thin, selectively imprinted films of nylon-6 and other polymers. The film recognition activity is clearly coordinated with the appearance of nanometer-sized pores. The mechanical properties of the imprinted network reflect the various functional states of molecularly imprinted polymer films. Three specific functional states of the MIP were observed. Pores filled by template molecules may be distinguished from empty pores due to the variation in the elasticity modulus, the viscoelasticity and the hardness. The presence of the template molecule makes the polymer matrix stiffer due to strong hydrogen bonds (or other interactions) with the polymer chains. Films with empty pores have a higher viscoelasticity than those with filled pores. Changes in the polymer network are directly related to the nanomechanical properties and systematically studied in this work.     

Preparation of water‐compatible molecularly imprinted polymers for caffeine with a novel ionic liquid as a functional monomer

Water‐compatible molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) for caffeine were synthesized in aqueous medium with a new functional monomer, 1‐(α‐methyl acrylate)‐3‐methylimidazolium bromide (1‐MA‐3MI‐Br), which had π–π and hydrogen‐bonding interactions. Caffeine‐imprinted polymers were prepared in suspension polymerization with 1‐MA‐3MI‐Br and methacrylic acid (MAA), which only had hydrogen bonding, as a functional monomer. For the specific binding characteristics of the new functional monomer 1‐MA‐3MI‐Br, the adsorption capacity and relative separation factor (β) of MIPs for caffeine were significantly enhanced. The maximum adsorption capacities of 1‐MA‐3MI‐Br–MIP and MAA–MIP imprinted microspheres for caffeine were 53.80 and 28.90 μmol/g, respectively. Moreover, the relative separation factors were measured by comparison of the separation characteristics under competitive adsorption conditions. The results showed that the β of MAA–MIP for caffeine relative to theophylline was only 1.65; this showed a very poor recognition selectivity for caffeine, but β of 1‐MA‐3MI‐Br–MIP for caffeine with respect to theophylline was remarkably enhanced to 3.19; this showed an excellent recognition selectivity and binding affinity toward caffeine molecules in an aqueous environment. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013     

Noncovalent imprinted microspheres: Preparation,evaluation and selectivity of DBU template

1,8‐diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec‐7‐ene (DBU) imprinted polymer was prepared as microspheres by precipitation polymerization method to obtain molecular recognition systems based on the noncovalent interactions between DBU template, methacrylic acid (MAA), and ethylene .glycol dimethacrylate (EDMA) in acetonitrile. ¹H NMR analysis of DBU/MAA mixture has been performed and hydrogen bonding interactions have been established. Microspheres have been characterized by FTIR studies with evidence of DBU linkage in polymer particles and by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) to study their morphological properties. How pH values affect the binding capacity of imprinted polymer during the binding stage has been also discussed and results suggest that imprinted poly‐(MAA‐EDMA) behavior is related to the influence of DBU basicity during rebinding processes and the optimum pH value for binding has been found around neutral range. Binding ability of the imprinted polymer towards different concentration of DBU buffered solutions has been evaluated and compared with binding ability of the non‐imprinted polymer. A more sensitive response to the template in the imprinted system suggests that a reasonable number of specific binding sites is formed. Finally, differential selectivity towards other less strong than DBU nitrogen bases, such as pyridine, imidazole, and 1,5‐diazabicyclo[4.3.0]non‐5‐ene (DBN) has been also discussed. Our results indicate that both specific sites and basic properties are involved in the rebinding process. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007     

Development of molecularly imprinted co-polymeric devices for controlled delivery of flufenamic acid using supercritical fluid technology

This work reports the development of a novel class of affinity co-polymeric materials using supercritical fluid technology. Polymeric materials with molecular recognition to flufenamic acid, were first synthesized in supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO₂) using the drug as template. Molecularly imprinted co-polymers of methacrylic acid (MAA) or N-isopropyl acrylamide (NIPAAm) crosslinked with ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) were synthesized using different crosslinking degrees and template:monomer ratios, at 65 °C and 21 MPa. High-pressure NMR experiments confirmed that the nature of the interactions between the drug and the functional monomers during the polymerization step are mainly hydrogen bonds. scCO₂-assisted impregnation revealed that the imprinted matrices were able to uptake higher amounts of flufenamic acid. This effect was particularly evidenced in the more crosslinked matrices, with P(MAA-EGDMA) imprinted copolymers binding up to 101.5 mg drug/g polymer against only 50.5 mg/g in the non-imprinted copolymer. In vitro drug delivery experiments showed that imprinted co-polymers release the drug in a more sustained way than the corresponding non-imprinted matrices. Overall it was shown that supercritical fluid technology is a viable approach for the development of self-assembly molecular recognition polymers with potential application in controlled drug delivery systems.     

Application of Molecularly Imprinted Polymer for Extraction and Determination of Nalidixic Acid by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography

Nalidixic acid imprinted polymer has high application potential in clinical purposes. Molecularly imprinted polymers were prepared using nalidixic acid as the template molecule. The polymer was synthesized in a non-covalent approach with N,N-dimethylacrilamid and allyl glycidyl ether/iminodiacetic acid as the functional monomer. The effects of various parameters such as pH and adsorption time on adsorption capacity were considered. It was confirmed that the binding ability of the prepared molecularly imprinted polymer for nalidixic acid was essentially sufficient in the presence of the other compounds coexisting in human urine.     

Evaluation of aminoquinoline‐imprinted polymers and the recognition mechanism

Three molecularly imprinted polymers P(2‐AQ), P(3‐AQ), and P(8‐AQ) based on methacrylic acid (MAA)–ethylene glycol dimethacrylate were prepared using isomers 2‐aminoquinoline (2‐AQ), 3‐aminoquinoline (3‐AQ), and 8‐aminoquinoline (8‐AQ) as template, respectively, by non‐covalent bulk polymerization technique. Neither P(3‐AQ) nor P(8‐AQ) exhibited imprinting effect for 3‐AQ or 8‐AQ, whereas P(2‐AQ) showed significant imprinting effect for 2‐AQ. This indicates that the position of amino group on the quinoline ring has crucial influence on imprinting effect. The recognition mechanism of P(2‐AQ) was investigated extensively by such methods as selective experiments, comparative study with 2‐aminopyridine‐imprinted polymer, and effect of different kinds of mobile phases. It is confirmed that there are complementary cavities in P(2‐AQ) both in size and in the arrangement of functional groups to 2‐AQ, and MAA binds 2‐AQ via cyclic hydrogen bond. Furthermore, the influence of synthetic conditions on 2‐AQ‐imprinted polymers was explored. We found 2‐AQ‐imprinted polymer synthesized in acetonitrile porogen showed higher imprinting effect for 2‐AQ than that prepared in chloroform. It is deduced that the morphology of the former might be more favorable to 2‐AQ binding, which is also supported indirectly by the fluorimetric experiments estimating the interaction of 2‐AQ with MAA in these two porogens. Additionally, 2‐AQ‐imprinted polymers prepared using two different amounts of acetonitrile exhibited very different imprinting effects, which suggested that porogen amount used in the imprinting process exerted significant influence. In addition to the in‐depth elucidation of the recognition mechanism of 2‐AQ‐imprinted polymer, this article provides the basis for the separation and enrichment of bioactive 2‐AQ. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013     

Recognition property and preparation of Staphylococcus aureus protein A-imprinted polyacrylamide polymers by inverse-phase suspension and bulk polymerization

Staphylococcus aureus protein A-imprinted polyacrylamide gel beads (SpA-IPGB) and imprinted polyacrylamide particles (SpA-IPGP) were synthesized by inverse-phase suspension polymerization and bulk polymerization, using SpA as template, acrylamide (AM) as functional monomers. Recognition capacity studies of the prepared SpA-IPGB and SpA-IPGP on SpA and S. aureus were conducted to determine recognition specificity. Computer imitation docking studies were conducted between template proteins and acrylamide monomer to reveal the recognition mechanism of SpA molecularly imprinted polymer. The results showed that the imprinted gel beads had high adsorption capacity and specificity to the SpA and S. aureus, and the adsorption quantity could reach 6.85 × 10⁻³ μmol/g and 10³-10⁴ CFU/g. The adsorption capacities of SpA-IPGB on SpA and S. aureus were higher than that of SpA-IPGP and Non-imprinted polyacrylamide gel beads (Non-IPGB). The recognition specificity of SpA-IPGB and SpA-IPGP on S. aureus was much higher than on Escherichia coli and Streptococcus thermophilus. The formation of complementary shape, and hydrogen bonding, electrostatic, and hydrophobic interactions between the imprinting cavities and the template proteins is the driving force for effective and specific recognition of protein imprinted polymer.