Synthesis of caffeic acid and p-hydroxybenzoic acid molecularly imprinted polymers and their application for the selective extraction of polyphenols from olive mill waste waters

Using caffeic acid and p-hydroxybenzoic acid as templates, two molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) were prepared that were used for isolation of polyphenols from olive mill waste water samples (OMWWs) without previous pre-treatment. For the preparation of the caffeic acid MIPs 4-vinylpyridine, allylurea, allylaniline and methacrylic acid were tested as functional monomers, ethylene glycol dimethylacrylate (EDMA), pentaerythritol trimethylacrylate (PETRA) and divinylbenzene 80 (DVB80) as cross-linkers and tetrahydrofuran as porogen. For p-hydroxybenzoic acid 4-vinylpyridine, allylurea and allylaniline were tested as functional monomers, EDMA and PETRA as cross-linkers and acetonitrile as porogen. The performance of the synthesized polymers was evaluated against seven structurally related compounds by means of polymer-based HPLC. The two polymers that presented the most interesting properties were further evaluated by batch rebinding and from the derived isotherms their capacity and binding strength were determined. Using solid-phase extraction (SPE), their ability to recognize and bind the template molecule from an aqueous solution as well as the pH dependence of the binding strength were explored. After establishing the best SPE protocol, an aqueous model mixture of compounds and a raw OMWWs sample were loaded on the two best polymers. The result of the consecutive use of the two polymers on the same sample was explored. It was concluded that acidic conditions favour the recognition abilities of both polymers and that they can be used for a quick and efficient isolation of the polyphenol fraction directly from raw OMWW.     

Chiral resolution of derivatized amino acids using uniformly sized molecularly imprinted polymers in hydro-organic mobile phases

Uniformly sized molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) for Boc-l-Trp were prepared using ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EDMA) as the cross-linker, and methacylic acid (MAA) and/or 4-vinylpyridine (4-VPY) as the functional monomers or without use of a functional monomer. The MIPs prepared were evaluated using acetonitrile or a mixture of phosphate buffer and acetonitrile as the mobile phase. The Boc-l-Trp-imprinted EDMA polymers can recognize Boc-l-Trp by its molecular shape, and can thus afford the enantioseparation of Boc-Trp. Besides the molecular shape recognition, the hydrophobic interactions with the polymer backbones as well as the hydrogen-bonding interactions of Boc-l-Trp with carboxyl and pyridyl groups in the polymers should work for the retention and recognition of Boc-l-Trp on the imprinted MAA-co-EDMA and 4-VPY-co-EDMA polymers, respectively, in the hydro-organic mobile phase. The hydrogen-bonding interactions seem to become dominant when only acetonitrile is used as the mobile phase. The Boc-l-Trp-imprinted 4-VPY-co-EDMA polymers gave the highest retentivity and enantioselectivity for Boc-Trp among the MIPs prepared. However, the simultaneous use of MAA and 4-VPY was not effective for the enantioseparation of Boc-Trp in a hydro-organic mobile phase. Furthermore, the baseline separation of Boc-Trp enantiomers was attained within 10 min on the Boc-l-Trp-imprinted 4-VPY-co-EDMA polymers under the optimized HPLC conditions.     

Molecularly imprinted polymers prepared in aqueous solution selective for [Sar,Ala]angiotensin II

Conventional molecular imprinting technology allows the synthesis in organic solvents of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) selective toward relatively low molecular weight compounds. However, synthesis in aqueous media of chemically and mechanically stable MIPs that can recognize biomolecules such as peptides and proteins still is a great challenge. In this article, we report the successful synthesis of peptide-selective MIPs in aqueous solution. HPLC evaluation of these polymers with a water-based mobile phase showed their selectivity for the peptide, [Sar¹,Ala⁸]angiotensin II (SA), that had been used as the template, but not for its parent peptide angiotensin II (AII). The binding capacity and selectivity of our MIPs depended on the ratio of template to functional monomer in the polymerization mixture, as well as on the ionic strength and pH of the chromatographic mobile phase. These MIPs can be used for chromatographic detection of the octapeptide [Sar¹,Ala⁸]angiotensin II in aqueous solution, with a detection limit of 8 pmol and a response that is linear (r²>0.99) over the concentration range 0.4-20 μM.     

Chromatographic characterization of molecularly imprinted polymers

Recent efforts in the investigation of chromatographic characterization of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) have focused mainly on the nature of heterogeneous binding sites. More data on the thermodynamics than on the kinetic features of MIP columns have been published. The present article addresses the sources of peak broadening and tailing, which are the main drawbacks often associated with imprinted polymers in chromatography for practical applications. With use of the theory of nonlinear chromatography, the peak properties of a MIP column, including the retention and peak broadening and tailing, can be well interpreted. Efforts to improve chromatographic efficiency using MIPs prepared by approaches different from the conventional method, including covalent imprinting and the format of uniformly sized spherical microbeads, are reviewed and discussed. This review leads to the conclusion that nonlinear chromatography theory is useful for characterizing chromatographic features of MIP columns, since a MIP is essentially an affinity-based chromatographic stationary phase. We expect more theoretical and experimental studies on the kinetic aspects of MIP columns, especially the factors influencing the apparent rate constant, as well as the analysis of the influences of mobile-phase composition on the chromatographic performance. In addition to revealing the affinity interaction by molecular recognition, slow nonspecific interactions which may be inherited from the imperfect imprinting and may be involved in the rebinding of the template to MIPs also need to be characterized. Figure The peak broadening and tailing associated often with molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) in column chromatography for practical applications can be well characterized by the theory of nonlinear chromatography.     

Preparation of molecularly imprinted polymers for organophosphates and their application to the recognition of organophosphorus compounds and phosphopeptides

Monodisperse molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) for diphenyl phosphate (DPP) and 1-naphthyl phosphate (1-NapP) have been prepared by a multi-step swelling and polymerization method using 4-vinylpyridine as a functional monomer, glycerol dimethacrylate as a crosslinker and cyclohexanol or 1-hexanol as a porogen. The retention and molecular-recognition properties of these MIPs for organophosphorus compounds were evaluated by HPLC using a mixture of phosphate buffer and acetonitrile as an eluent. In addition to shape recognition, hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions could play an important role in the retention and molecular recognition of DPP and 1-NapP. Furthermore, the MIPs were applied to the separation of adenosine and adenosine phosphates (AMP, ADP and ATP). These phosphates were retained on the MIPs according to the number of phosphate groups in the molecule and were well separated from one another. Hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions seemed to affect the retention and recognition of adenosine phosphates in low acetonitrile content, while hydrophilic interactions affected these properties in high acetonitrile content. Finally, the MIPs were applied to the trapping of phosphopeptides. The MIPs non-selectively trapped phosphopeptides, which have phosphorylated tyrosine, serine or threonine in the sequences, and successfully trapped four phosphopeptides in tryptic digests of bovine α-casein.     

Preparation of a molecularly imprinted polymer for the solid-phase extraction of scopolamine with hyoscyamine as a dummy template molecule

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) selective for scopolamine were produced using hyoscyamine (a close structural analogue) as template molecule. The produced polymers were used as media for solid-phase extraction, exhibiting selective binding properties for the analyte from biological samples. Human and calf urine and serum were processed on the MIP under various extraction protocols. The best performance was observed after loading the analyte in aqueous environment facilitating retention on the MIP by non-selective hydrophobic interactions. The MIPs were subsequently washed using an optimised solvent system to enable selective desorption of the analyte. Other related and non-related compounds were accessed to evaluate molecular recognition properties. Recoveries of up to 79% were achieved for the analyte of interest from biological samples.     

分子印迹聚合物的制备及孔结构研究

以N 叔丁氧羰酰 L 色氨酸和N 叔丁氧羰酰 L 酪氨酸为印迹分子 ,分别采用光引发聚合和热引发聚合制备了分子印迹聚合物 ,并对聚合物的手性识别能力进行了色谱评价 .结果表明 ,制备的分子印迹聚合物对印迹分子具有特异性的吸附作用 ,光引发聚合的N 叔丁氧羰酰 L 色氨酸的印迹聚合物对印迹分子的选择性因子达到 2 .318,热引发聚合的N 叔丁氧羰酰 L 酪氨酸对印迹分子的选择性因子为 1 373 进一步研究了分子印迹聚合物的孔结构 ,发现光引发聚合的分子印迹聚合物与空白聚合物的孔结构差别比热引发聚合的分子印迹聚合物与空白聚合物的差别更为明显 .对印迹分子洗脱前后的印迹聚合物的孔结构研究进一步表明 ,印迹分子存在于不同类型的孔中 .     

水相识别分子印迹技术

在各种基于超分子方法的仿生识别体系中,分子印迹聚合物已经证明是一种有潜力的合成受体,受到了广泛的关注。传统的分子印迹技术通常是在有机溶剂中制备对小分子具有选择性的印迹聚合物,而在水相中制备及识别生物大分子的研究仍具有相当的挑战性。从小分子到生物大分子、从有机相到水相,反映了分子印迹技术的发展趋势。本文对最近几年分子印迹在水相制备与识别方面的最新进展进行了总结与评述,探讨了水相识别印迹聚合物的设计策略与制备方法;着重介绍了水相识别技术在固相萃取、色谱固定相、药物控释、中药有效成份提取以及生物分子识别等方面的应用;指出了提高水相识别选择性的途径并对其将来的发展进行了建议与展望。     

Investigation of imprinting parameters and their recognition nature for quinine-molecularly imprinted polymers

A series of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) was prepared using quinine as the template molecules by bulk polymerization. The presence of monomer-template solution complexes in non-covalent MIPs systems has been verified by both fluorescence and UV-vis spectrometric detection. The influence of different synthetic conditions (porogen, functional monomer, cross-linkers, initiation methods, monomer-template ratio, etc.) on recognition properties of the polymers was investigated. Scatchard analysis revealed that two classes of binding sites were formed in the imprinted polymer. The corresponding dissociation constants were estimated to be 45.00 micromol l(-1) and 1.42 mmol l(-1), respectively, by utilizing a multi-site recognition model. The binding characteristics of the imprinted polymers were explored in various solvents using equilibrium binding experiments. In the organic media, results suggested that polar interactions (hydrogen bonding, ionic interactions, etc.) between acidic monomer/polymer and template molecules were mainly responsible for the recognition, whereas in aqueous media, hydrophobic interactions had a remarkable non-specific contribution to the overall binding. The specificity of MIP was evaluated by rebinding the other structurally similar compounds. The results indicated that the imprinted polymers exhibited an excellent stereo-selectivity toward quinine.     

Quercetin molecularly imprinted polymers: Preparation, recognition characteristics and properties as sorbent for solid-phase extraction

Molecular imprinted polymers (MIPs) were prepared through thermal polymerization by using quercetin as the template molecule, acrylamide (AA) as the functional monomer and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EDMA) as the cross-linker in the porogen of tetrahydrofuran (THF). The synthesized MIPs were identified by both Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Systematic investigations of the influences of key synthetic conditions, including functional monomers, porogens and cross-linkers, on the recognition properties of the MIPs were conducted. Scatchard analysis revealed that the homogeneous binding sites were formed in the polymers. Besides quercetin, two structurally similar compounds of rutin and catechol were employed for molecular recognition specificity tests of MIPs. It was observed that the MIPs exhibited the highest selective rebinding to quercetin. Accordingly, the MIPs were used as a solid-phase extraction (SPE) sorbent for the extraction and enrichment of quercetin in cacumen platycladi samples, followed by HPLC-UV analysis. The application of MIPs with high affinity and excellent stereo-selectivity toward quercetin in SPE might offer a novel method for the enrichment and determination of flavonoid compounds in the natural products.     

Preparation and characterization of novel molecularly imprinted polymers based on thiourea receptors for nitrocompounds recognition

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) for the recognition of nitro derivatives are prepared from three different (thio)urea-bearing functional monomers. The binding capability of the polymers is characterized by a batch binding experiment. The imprinting factors and affinity constants (K) of the imprinted polymers exhibit the same tendency as the binding constants (K_a) of the functional monomers to the target substance in solution. Not only nitrofurantoin is efficiently bound by these MIPs but also a broad spectrum of other nitro compounds is bound with at the intermediate level, addressing that these (thio)urea-based monomers can be utilized to prepare a family of MIPs for various nitro compounds, which can be applied as recognition elements in separation and analytical application.     

Towards ochratoxin A selective molecularly imprinted polymers for solid-phase extraction

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) displaying selective binding properties for the mycotoxin ochratoxin A (OTA) in polar/protic media were prepared. Crucial to the success of these efforts was the implementation of rationally designed OTA mimics as templates and a set of novel basic and neutral functional monomers, allowing the maximization of the template-functional monomer association via ion-pairing, hydrophobic and steric interactions. MIPs prepared with a 20:1:1:3 molar ratio of cross-linking agent, template mimic, basic functional monomer and hydrophobic auxiliary monomer produced polymers with superior recognition properties compared to materials generated with other stoichiometries. Chromatographic evaluation using the OTA mimics, OTA and a set of structurally closely related compounds as analytes revealed pronounced substrate selectivity of these MIPs in polar/protic media, the templates and OTA being bound with significantly higher affinities. Complementary substrate selectivities/affinities were observed in aprotic and apolar solvents. The possibility of solvent-dependent tuning of substrate selectivity/affinity and the high binding capacity recommend the developed MIPs as promising solid-phase extraction adsorbents for clean-up and pre-concentration of OTA from various biologically relevant matrices.     

Selectivity of some basic solutes on a poly(methyltetradecylsiloxane)-silica stationary phase

Complex analyses of polar compounds, especially basic ones, require more selective stationary phases. The present paper describes a stationary phase prepared by thermal immobilization of poly(methyltetradecylsiloxane) onto chromatographic silica (PMTDS-SiO(2)). This stationary phase presents hydrophobic and ion-exchange interactions that confer both high retention and unique selectivities for basic solutes. The influence of ion-exchange interactions is confirmed by the increase in retention factors of basic solutes when the mobile-phase pH changes from acidic to neutral and by the decrease in retention factors when the mobile-phase pH changes from neutral to alkaline. The ion-exchange properties of the stationary phase are enriched in neutral mobile phase (pH 7-7.5) using soft Lewis bases such as tricine and tris as buffers but are suppressed in both acidic (pH 2.5-6) and highly alkaline mobile phases (pH≤10). Increasing both temperature and flow rate permits more rapid separations while maintaining the selectivity. The stability of the stationary phase is evaluated with acid, neutral and alkaline mobile phases.     

Molecularly imprinted polymers for 5-fluorouracil release in biological fluids

The aim of this work was to investigate the possibility of employing Molecularly Imprinted Polymers (MIPs) as a controlled release device for 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in biological fluids, especially gastrointestinal ones, compared to Non Imprinted Polymers (NIPs). MIPs were synthesized using methacrylic acid (MAA) as functional monomer and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as crosslinking agent. The capacity of the polymer to recognize and to bind the template selectively in both organic and aqueous media was evaluated. An in vitro release study was performed both in gastrointestinal and in plasma simulating fluids. The imprinted polymers bound much more 5-Fu than the corresponding non-imprinted ones and showed a controlled/sustained drug release, with MIPs release rate being indeed much more sustained than that obtained from NIPs. These polymers represent a potential valid system for drug delivery and this study indicates that the selective binding characteristic of molecularly imprinted polymers is promising for the preparation of novel controlled release drug dosage form.     

Synthesis of Z-5-carboxymethylene-1,3-dioxolan-4-ones: a better way

The title compounds were prepared by a straightforward two-step procedure. Tartaric acid was first protected as either a bis(ketal) or a bis(acetal). This intermediate was then treated with potassium tert-butoxide at reduced temperature to effect a stereoselective elimination leading to the Z diastereomer of the alpha,beta-unsaturated acid. This protocol is useful for the laboratory-scale synthesis of these compounds but can also be scaled up to produce kilogram quantities of the material.     

Preparation and computational investigation of molecular imprinted polymers for Clidinium Bromide

Molecular imprinted polymers (MIPs) are polymers that possess recognition sites specific for a predetermined target molecule (Template). Inspired by the idea of biological natural receptors, they behave like synthetic molecular recognition elements. They have been developed into a promising tool in several crucial applications, including analytical methods, drug delivery, and catalysis. The non-covalent imprinting is more commonly used approach in the preparation of MIPs because of its simplicity. In this approach, intermolecular interactions between the template molecule (T) and the functional monomer (FM) are the forces that govern the performance of the resulting MIP. Hence, studying these interactions is very important to elucidate and understand the imprinting mechanism. This paper focuses on preparation of two MIPs for a Clidinium Bromide (CB), using two different types of FMs. These MIPs are characterized by using IR and SEM techniques. Adsorption isotherm properties to CB are assayed for them. Then the structures of the pre-polymerization complexes of prepared MIPs were investigated using Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations at B3LYP/6-31G level in a vacuum and other media. Finally, Bader's Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules (QTAIM) was used to prove the existence and nature of intermolecular interactions between CB and FM. The theoretical results were in complete agreement with experiments and indicated that the use of AM as FM is preferred over MA in the MIP preparation for CB.     

Uniformly-sized, molecularly imprinted polymers for (-)-epigallocatechin gallate, -epicatechin gallate and -gallocatechin gallate by multi-step swelling and polymerization method

Uniformly-sized, molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) for (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg), -epicatechin gallate (ECg) and -gallocatechin gallate (GCg) were prepared by a multi-step swelling and polymerization method using 2-vinylpyridine as a functional monomer, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as a cross-linker and cyclohexanol as a porogen. Molecular recognition abilities of the obtained MIPs were evaluated in liquid chromatography using a mixture of ethanol and water, or ethanol as the eluent. Each MIP gave the highest molecular recognition ability for the respective template molecule. In addition, (-)-EGCg and -ECg had the same configuration (2R,3R) at positions 2 and 3, and therefore resulting in high cross reactivity each other. However, (-)-GCg, which has different configuration at position 2 with (-)-EGCg and -ECg, showed low cross reactivity with them. On the other hand, those MIPs showed no molecular recognition against (-)-epigallocatechin and -epicatechin, which have no gallate group at position 3. These results indicate that the MIPs prepared can recognize configuration at position 2 and a gallate group at position 3. Furthermore, the MIP for (-)-GCg could be successfully used for isolating (-)-EGCg and -ECg from green tea extract.     

Chromatographic Separation of the Enantiomers of a Series of C2-Asymmetric Bi-Naphthyl Compounds by Molecularly Imprinted Polymers

The aim of this study was to observe the chiral separation of a series of C₂-asymmetric bi-naphthyl compounds on molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) using 1,1′-bi-2-naphthol (BINOL) as template. MIP prepared using 4-vinylpyridine as the functional monomer showed better chiral recognition for the template than the MIPs prepared using acrylamide, 2-(diethylamino)ethylmethacrylate and 2-vinylpyridine, respectively. ¹H-NMR was used for comparison of the interactions between template and functional monomers. For chromatographic analysis the effects of mobile phase and temperature on the chiral separation were investigated. When 4-vinylpyridine was employed as the functional monomer, chiral separation of 1,1′-bi-2-naphthol and its analogues were studied. The MIP also demonstrated an ability to discriminate between enantiomers of structurally related compounds that had not been imprinted. The thermodynamic parameters of interactions between substrates and MIP in acetonitrile based mobile phase were investigated by the Van’t Hoff equation. In this study, the specific hydrogen-bonding interactions seemed to be the key factor to achieve chiral separation.     

On-line solid-phase extraction with molecularly imprinted polymers to selectively extract substituted 4-chlorophenols and 4-nitrophenol from water

Three polymers have been synthesised using 4-chlorophenol (4-CP) as the template, following different protocols (non-covalent and semi-covalent) and using different functional co-monomers, 4-vinylpyridine (4-VP) and methacrylic acid (MAA). The polymers were evaluated to check their selectivity as molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) in solid-phase extraction (SPE) coupled on-line to liquid chromatography. The solid-phase extraction procedure using MIPs (MISPE), including the clean-up step to remove any interferences, was optimised. The 4-VP non-covalent polymer was the only one which showed a clear imprint effect. This MIP also showed cross-reactivity for the 4-chloro-substituted phenols and for 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) from a mixture containing the 11 priority EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) phenolic compounds and 4-chlorophenol. The MIP was applied to selectively extract the 4-chloro-substituted compounds and 4-NP from river water samples.     

Synthesis and chromatographic evaluation of molecularly imprinted polymers prepared by the substructure approach for the class-selective recognition of glucuronides

Two series of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) for the class-selective recognition of glucuronides have been prepared by using lipophilic substructures of the target analyte as template molecule and potent host monomers against oxyanions, that are expected to establish a strong stoichiometric interaction with the single carboxylic group of the template. The polymers were tested as stationary phases in liquid chromatography for specific recognition. A preliminary investigation of the imprinting properties of eleven MIPs was carried out, by comparing the retention time of the template and of structurally related compounds on the MIP column with that on the corresponding non-imprinted polymer (NIP). The two polymers showing the best performance were selected to further test cotinine, mycophenolic acid, testosterone and their respective glucuronides as model compounds. The high specificity obtained against glucuronides and the different chemical structure of the parent drug make the two MIPs class-selective imprinted receptors, also suitable for SPE application.