Computational approaches in the design of synthetic receptors – A review

The rational design of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) has been a major contributor to their reputation as “plastic antibodies” – high affinity robust synthetic receptors which can be optimally designed, and produced for a much reduced cost than their biological equivalents. Computational design has become a routine procedure in the production of MIPs, and has led to major advances in functional monomer screening, selection of cross-linker and solvent, optimisation of monomer(s)-template ratio and selectivity analysis. In this review the various computational methods will be discussed with reference to all the published relevant literature since the end of 2013, with each article described by the target molecule, the computational approach applied (whether molecular mechanics/molecular dynamics, semi-empirical quantum mechanics, ab initio quantum mechanics (Hartree-Fock, Møller–Plesset, etc.) or DFT) and the purpose for which they were used. Detailed analysis is given to novel techniques including analysis of polymer binding sites, the use of novel screening programs and simulations of MIP polymerisation reaction. The further advances in molecular modelling and computational design of synthetic receptors in particular will have serious impact on the future of nanotechnology and biotechnology, permitting the further translation of MIPs into the realms of analytics and medical technology.     

用于分子识别的分子印迹聚合物固定相

着重介绍了分子印迹聚合物（MIP）作为一种分离介质在手性化合物拆分方面的应用,系统总结了分子印迹的原理和MIP的4种合成方法,初步探讨了MIP的分子识别机理,并阐述了它的应用以及优点和缺点。     

Highly selective separations by capillary electrochromatography: molecular imprint polymer sorbents

Molecular imprint polymers (MIPs) are synthesized in the presence of a template, or 'imprint' molecule which results in the formation of specific recognition cavities complementary to the template in shape and chemical functionality. The resultant MIP then acts as a selective binding medium for the template molecule. The utility of MIPs lies in the selectivity of the rebinding process, which is based on molecular recognition. In many cases, the selectivity achieved with MIPs toward a particular molecule is comparable to that observed with antibodies. This has led to the application of MIPs to several areas of analytical chemistry including immunoassays, sensors and separations media. One of the most successful application areas of MIPs has been as chromatographic sorbents, where they have been utilized predominately in chiral separations. The use of MIP sorbents in CEC is attractive in that it combines the selectivity of a molecular recognition process with the enhanced flow dynamics of CEC, which can result in higher efficiency and shorter analysis times. This paper will review the use of molecular imprinted stationary phases in CEC. Following a brief introduction to molecular imprinting, various methodologies for preparation of MIP-CEC capillaries in addition to applications of the technique will be discussed.     

电聚合制备分子印迹电极及其特异性表征

本实验设计以邻苯二胺为功能单体,以双酚A为目标分子,采用简单快速的电聚合方法,制备了对双酚A具有特异性识别能力的分子印迹电极。采用差分脉冲伏安法和石英晶体微天平对印迹电极的特异识别性能进行表征。结果表明,印迹电极对双酚A表现出较高的特异性识别能力。与非印迹电极相比,识别能力提高一个数量级。同时,该电极对100倍浓度的阿特拉津、17β-雌二醇的信号响应仅为十分之一,表明该电极在复杂体系中具有良好的抗干扰能力。此外,该实验方案目标分子选择灵活,能制备针对不同目标分子的印迹电极,可满足自主设计实验的需求。通过该创新实验,可以有效帮助学生深入了解分子间的相互作用,体验在分子层次设计材料的过程。     

Molecular Recognition Ability of Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Nano- and Micro-Particles by Reversible Addition-Fragmentation Chain Transfer Polymerization

The role of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) is changing from academic to applied researches. Challenging problems about MIP will be more highlighted in applicable uses and solving these problems is vital. The controlled/“living” radical polymerization (CLRP) techniques are applicable to solve the challenging problems in MIPs. The “living” nature of CLRP helps to improve the heterogeneity of binding sites in MIPs as a main challenge where precise control over sizes, compositions, and surface functionalities is achieved. Among different techniques of CLRP, reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) technique presents distinguished benefits such as compatibility and tolerance to a wide range of functional monomers and mild reaction conditions rather than other CLRP techniques. In this review, in order to obtain more insights into the potential benefits of RAFT polymerization in fabrication of nano and micro MIP networks, recent research in advanced MIP materials for different templates with improved morphology, efficiency, and binding capacities with respect to traditional free radical polymerization (FRP) will be discussed. MIPs prepared via RAFT method have advantages of MIPs as high performance molecular recognition devices and CLRP as controllable polymerization mechanism, simultaneously.     

Synthesis, characterization, and ab initio theoretical study of a molecularly imprinted polymer selective for biosensor materials

Despite the complex phenomena involved in encoding template molecule information within stable synthetic polymers to yield selective and efficient molecular recognition processes, molecularly imprinted polymers (MIP) are increasingly finding broad areas of application. Molecular interactions, both during the polymerization of the functional monomers in the presence of the template and during the processes of specific recognition after template removal, are key determinants of an effective MIP. Covalent and noncovalent template imprinting have been employed to achieve specific recognition sites. In the present study, a molecularly imprinted biocompatible polymer, having a high capacity and affinity for the dye template, nickel(II) phthalocyanine tetrasulfonic acid, has been prepared. UV-visible spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, and ICP analysis were used to investigate the aspects of the synthesis, binding capacity, and adsorption kinetics of the system. Poly(allylamine) cross-linked with epichlorohydrin has been used to represent an amino-functional receptor. Binding isotherms and capacities were correlated with the degree of template removal. Kinetic studies of binding allowed diffusion mechanisms to be evaluated for the fine particulate MIP. Ab initio molecular orbital calculations were performed using Hartree-Fock, MP2, and density functional theory methods to determine the most likely mechanisms of molecular imprinting. Suitable theoretical models have been constructed to mimic the interactions between the template molecule and the polymer. Simulation of the vibrational spectra was also undertaken to make meaningful assignments to experimentally determined spectral bands resulting from these template MIP receptor interactions.     

An insight into molecularly imprinted polymers for capillary electrochromatography

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are actively being developed as a practical tool for affinity chromatographic supports. From the viewpoint of separation science, capillary electrochromatography (CEC) might be one of the more promising chromatographic techniques to be used in combination with the MIPs. However, up to the present, very little MIP work has involved CEC. This review gives a full overview of MIP including current trends in MIP, methods for the characterization of MIP, and methods for the preparation of MIP with particular emphasis on application of the resulting materials in CEC. To prepare MIPs with selectivity predetermined for a particular substance or group of structural analogues is an important factor for the development of a new format of CEC. From the fundamental research with the batch method, a better knowledge of imprint formation and imprint recognition will be helpful for expanding the application area of the combination of MIPs with CEC.     

Photopolymerization and photostructuring of molecularly imprinted polymers for sensor applications—A review

Biosensors are already well established in modern analytical chemistry, and have become important tools for clinical diagnostics, environmental analysis, production monitoring, drug detection or screening. They are based on the specific molecular recognition of a target molecule by a biological receptor such as an antibody or an enzyme. Synthetic biomimetic receptors like molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) have been shown to be a potential alternative to biomolecules as recognition element for biosensing. Produced by a templating process at the molecular level, MIPs are capable of recognizing and binding target molecules with similar specificity and selectivity to their natural analogues. One of the main challenges in MIP sensor development is the miniaturization of MIP structures and their interfacing with the transducer or with a microchip. Photostructuring appears thereby as one of the most suitable methods for patterning MIPs at the micro and nano scale, directly on the transducer surface. In the present review, a general overview on MIPs in biosensing applications is given, and the photopolymerization and photopatterning of MIPs are particularly described.     

Advance of computational technology for simulating solvent extraction.

Due to recent significant enhancement of computer performance as well as computational techniques, molecular modeling and molecular simulations using computational chemistry can be achieved at the level of practical applications. Even in solvent extraction, the application of computational chemistry to simulations of extraction processes and the molecular design of high-performance extracting agents have gradually been increasing during the last decade. With combining the quantitative structure-property relationship between the molecule properties calculated by the computational chemistry methods and the thermodynamic properties obtained from experiments, researchers can precisely predict the next-generation of extracting agents and novel extraction processes. In this review, the concept of computational chemistry, such as molecular mechanics, molecular orbitals and molecular dynamics calculations, frequently used in the filed of solvent extraction, are outlined. Our systematic research on the solvent-extraction process utilizing MM, MO and MD calculations is also presented.     

Preparation and characterization of molecularly imprinted organic–inorganic hybrid materials by sol–gel processing for selective recognition of ibuprofen

This work adopted semi-covalent imprinting to prepare molecularly imprinted polymers (MIP) with ibuprofen, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, as template by sol–gel processing, which is characterized by both the high affinity of covalent binding and the mild operation conditions of non-covalent rebinding. A functional monomer, which was used to synthesize the monomer-imprinted molecule complex, was prepared by multi-step synthesis for the first time. MIP was characterized by Fourier transform IR spectrum and nitrogen adsorption. Thin-layer chromatography separation was used to evaluate the specific molecular recognition ability of MIP. In addition, dynamic and thermodynamic studies on MIP imprinting ibuprofen were undertaken. The results of equilibrium rebinding experiments showed that MIP exhibited good adsorption capacity for ibuprofen. Scatchard analysis illustrated that the template-polymer system shows only one-site binding behavior with a dissociation constant of 1.84 mmol L^?1. Dynamic adsorption exhibited pseudo-second-order kinetics. The positive value of ΔH^θ and the negative values of ΔG^θ demonstrated that the binding system for MIP is endothermic and spontaneous.     

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.     

Factors Affecting Preparation of Molecularly Imprinted Polymer and Methods on Finding Template-Monomer Interaction as the Key of Selective Properties of the Materials

Molecular imprinting is a technique for creating artificial recognition sites on polymer matrices that complement the template in terms of size, shape, and spatial arrangement of functional groups. The main advantage of Molecularly Imprinted Polymers (MIP) as the polymer for use with a molecular imprinting technique is that they have high selectivity and affinity for the target molecules used in the molding process. The components of a Molecularly Imprinted Polymer are template, functional monomer, cross-linker, solvent, and initiator. Many things determine the success of a Molecularly Imprinted Polymer, but the Molecularly Imprinted Polymer component and the interaction between template-monomers are the most critical factors. This review will discuss how to find the interaction between template and monomer in Molecularly Imprinted Polymer before polymerization and after polymerization and choose the suitable component for MIP development. Computer simulation, UV-Vis spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Proton-Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (¹H-NMR) are generally used to determine the type and strength of intermolecular interaction on pre-polymerization stage. In turn, Suspended State Saturation Transfer Difference High Resolution/Magic Angle Spinning (STD HR/MAS) NMR, Raman Spectroscopy, and Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) and Fluorescence Spectroscopy are used to detect chemical interaction after polymerization. Hydrogen bonding is the type of interaction that is becoming a focus to find on all methods as this interaction strongly contributes to the affinity of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs).     

Preparation and application of molecularly imprinted polymer for isolation of chicoric acid from Chicorium intybus L. medicinal plant

Molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) was synthesized and applied for the extraction of chicoric acid from Chicory herb (Chicorium intybus L.). A computational study was developed to find a suitable template to functional monomer molar ratio for MIP preparations. The molar ratio was chosen based on the comparison of the binding energy of the complexes between the template and functional monomers. Based on the computational results, eight different polymers were prepared using chicoric acid as the template. The MIPs were synthesized in a non-covalent approach via thermal free-radical polymerization, using two different polymerization methods, bulk and suspension. Batch rebinding experiments were performed to evaluate the binding properties of the imprinted polymers. The best results were obtained with a MIP prepared using bulk polymerization with 4-vinylpyridine (4-VP) as the functional monomer and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as the crosslinker with a molar ratio of 1:4:20. The best MIP showed selective binding ability toward chicoric acid in the presence of the template’s structural analogues, caffeic acid, caftaric acid and chlorogenic acid.     

分子力场进展

分子力学（简称ＭＭ）是近年来化学家常用的一种计算方法。与量子力学从头计算和半经验方法相比，用分子力学处理大分子可以大大节省计算时间，而且，在大多数情况下，用分子力学方法计算得到的分子几何构型参数与实验值之间的差值可在实验误差范围之内。所以，分子力学是研究生物化学体系的有效和可行的手段。分子力学的核心是分子力场。本文介绍了分子力场的量子力学背景、分子力场和光谱力场之间的关系。分子力场的一般形式、分力     

Molecularly imprinted polymers for bisphenol A for HPLC and SPE from water and milk

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) for bisphenol A (BPA) were prepared by two synthetic routes: semi-covalent and noncovalent methodology. The molecular imprinting effect was evaluated using the polymers in HPLC and SPE. Polymers prepared with noncovalent mode were proven more effective. These polymers were applied in SPE facilitating selective retention of BPA from bottled water and milk. The developed sample preparation was simple and efficient comprising only dilution of milk and MISPE prior to LC-MS analysis. Overall MISPE enhanced sample clean-up. Compared with control nonimprinted polymers and conventional C18 SPE cartridges, the MIPs exhibited selective analyte recognition. The method provided quantitative BPA recoveries, very good reproducibility (% RSDs lower than 7%), and low LOD (0.2 ng/g). MIP interacts similarly with deuterated BPA allowing its use as internal standard in LC-MS. The most critical parameters of MISPE were the organic content in loading-washing medium and the washing volume. Low flow rates in the elution step enhanced extraction recovery. Important advantages of the MIP were: the high breakthrough volumes (> 500 mL of water), high mass capacity (> 10 ng/mg of MIP sorbent), good linearity, and good stability in performance for over 35 cycles of use.     

对苯二胺分子印迹聚合物的分子识别特性

以对苯二胺(p-PD)为模板分子,分别以甲基丙烯酸(MAA)和丙烯酰胺(AA)为功能单体,制备了p-PD的印迹聚合物P(MAA)和P(AA),采用色谱法考察了其分子识别特性。结果表明,P(AA)对p-PD无明显的印迹效应;而甲醇为流动相时,P(MAA)能够选择性结合p-PD分子(k′=3.57),对p-PD有显著的印迹效应(印迹因子IF=2.95),P(MAA)柱可以实现p-PD与邻苯二胺(o-PD)和对氨基苯甲酸(p-ABA)的色谱分离。通过光谱实验及HF/6-31G*量化理论计算方法,对比研究了p-PD与MAA和AA之间的相互作用。MAA与p-PD能够形成更稳定的复合物,P(MAA)对p-PD具有更好的分子识别能力。研究表明紫外吸收光谱法和荧光光谱法以及量子化学理论计算法可作为功能单体筛选的有效手段;对于荧光模板分子,荧光光谱法具有简便、灵敏等特点。     

MIP sensors – the electrochemical approach

This review highlights the importance of coupling molecular imprinting technology with methodology based on electrochemical techniques for the development of advanced sensing devices. In recent years, growing interest in molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) in the preparation of recognition elements has led researchers to design novel formats for improvement of MIP sensors. Among possible approaches proposed in the literature on this topic, we will focus on the electrosynthesis of MIPs and on less common hybrid technology (e.g. based on electrochemistry and classical MIPs, or nanotechnology). Starting from the early work reported in this field, an overview of the most innovative and successful examples will be reviewed.     

腈菌唑分子印迹聚合物的制备及识别性能研究

以腈菌唑为模板分子，采用原位分子印迹技术，制备具有特定识别性能的连续棒状分子印迹聚合物。考察了流动相中酸量对分离的影响，研究了几种结构类似物在所得分子印迹柱上的保留特性。结果表明，这种棒状分子印迹聚合物比相应的空白聚合物有高的识别性能和选择性。     

Molecular imprinting-based separation methods for selective analysis of fluoroquinolones in soils

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) for fluoroquinolone antibiotics (FQs) have been synthesised in one single preparative step by precipitation polymerisation using ciprofloxacin (CIP) as template. Combinations of methacrylic acid (MAA) or 4-vinylpyridine (VP) as functional monomers, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as crosslinker and dichloromethane, methanol, acetonitrile or toluene as porogens were tested. The experiments carried out by molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction (MISPE) in cartridges did not allow to detect any imprint effect in the VP-based polymers whereas it was clearly observed in the MAA-based polymers. Among them, the MIP prepared in methanol using MAA as monomer showed the best performance and was chosen for further experiments. The ability of the selected MIP for the selective recognition of other widely used FQs (enoxacin, norfloxacin, danofloxacin and enrofloxacin) and quinolones (Qs) (cinoxacin, flumequine, nalidixic acid and oxolinic acid) was evaluated. The obtained results revealed the high selectivity of the obtained polymer, which was able to distinguish between FQs, that were recognised and retained onto the MIP cartridge, and Qs, which were washed out during loading and washing steps. The MIP was then packed into a stainless steel column (50mmx4.6mm i.d.) and evaluated as chromatography column for screening of FQs in soil samples. The mobile phase composition, flow rate, and the elution profile were then optimised in order to improve peak shape without sacrifying imprinting factor. Finally, under optimised conditions, soil samples spiked with CIP or with a mixture of fluoroquinolones in concentration of 0.5microgg(-1) were successfully analysed by the developed MIP-based procedures.