Molecularly imprinted polymer nanocarriers for recognition and sustained release of diclofenac

In this study, a series of imprinted poly(methacrylic acid‐co‐ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) nanocarriers for diclofenac and corresponding nonimprinted polymer nanocarriers have been synthesized in 4 different types of solvents by precipitation polymerization. The products were characterized by Fourier transform infrared, scanning electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, and Brunauer‐Emmett‐Teller measurement. Results showed that uniformly sized molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) nanospheres with relatively good porosity could only be obtained in acetonitrile. The effects of solvents on the recognition and release properties of polymer particles were also carefully investigated. The binding experiments indicated that MIPs prepared in acetonitrile displayed much higher binding capacity than other MIPs with a maximum binding capacity of 65.18 mg g⁻¹. The Scatchard analysis showed that synthetic MIPs have special recognition sites for diclofenac, while nonimprinted polymers have not. The Sips model could provide a best fit to the equilibrium data of nanocarriers over whole concentrations. The experimental data of an adsorption kinetic study were well fitted to the pseudo–second‐order kinetic model, indicating the chemisorption mechanism between diclofenac and MIPs in the process of adsorption. The drug release of diclofenac from MIPs could well be described by the Ritger‐Peppas model, suggesting a non‐Fickian diffusion mechanism. In addition, we successfully used MIPs to extract diclofenac at low levels from fetal bovine serum.     

The Syntheses and Characterization of Molecularly Imprinted Polymers for the Controlled Release of Bromhexine

Imprinted polymers are now being increasingly considered for active biomedical uses such as drug delivery. In this work, the use of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) in designing new drug delivery devices was studied. Imprinted polymers were prepared from methacrylic acid (functional monomer), ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (cross-linker), and bromhexine (as a drug template) using bulk polymerization method. The influence of the template/functional monomer proportion and pH on the achievement of MIPs with pore cavities with a high enough affinity for the drug was investigated. The polymeric devices were further characterized by FT-IR, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and binding experiments. The imprinted polymers showed a higher affinity for bromhexine and a slower release rate than the non-imprinted polymers. The controlled release of bromhexine from the prepared imprinted polymers was investigated through in vitro dissolution tests by measuring absorbance at λ _max of 310 nm by HPLC-UV. The dissolution media employed were hydrochloric acid at the pH level of 3.0 and phosphate buffers, at pH levels of 6.0 and 8.0, maintained at 37.0 and 25.0 ± 0.5 °C. Results from the analyses showed the ability of MIP polymers to control the release of bromhexine In all cases The imprinted polymers showed a higher affinity for bromhexine and a slower release rate than the non-imprinted polymers. At the pH level of 3.0 and at the temperature of 25 °C, slower release of bromhexine imprinted polymer occurred.     

Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Nanomaterials and Nanocomposites: Atom‐Transfer Radical Polymerization with Acidic Monomers

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are artificial receptors which can be tailored to bind target molecules specifically. A new method, using photoinitiated atom‐transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) for their synthesis as monoliths, thin films and nanoparticles is described. The synthesis takes place at room temperature and is compatible with acidic monomers, two major limitations for the use of ATRP with MIPs. The method has been validated with MIPs specific for the drugs testosterone and S‐propranolol. This study considerably widens the range of functional monomers and thus molecular templates which can be used when MIPs are synthesized by ATRP, as well as the range of physical forms of these antibody mimics, in particular films and lithographic patterns, and their post‐functionalization from living chain‐ends.     

Cyproterone Synthesis, Recognition and Controlled Release by Molecularly Imprinted Nanoparticle

In this study, we used novel synthetic conditions of precipitation polymerization to obtain nanosized cyproterone molecularly imprinted polymers for application in the design of new drug delivery systems. The scanning electron microscopy images and Brunauer?CEmmett?CTeller analysis showed that molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) prepared by acetonitrile exhibited particles at the nanoscale with a high degree of monodispersity, specific surface area of 246?m²?g^?1, and pore volume of 1.24?cm³?g^?1. In addition, drug release, binding properties, and dynamic light scattering of molecularly imprinted polymers were studied. Selectivity of MIPs was evaluated by comparing several substances with similar molecular structures to that of cyproterone. Controlled release of cyproterone from nanoparticles was investigated through in vitro dissolution tests and by measuring the absorbance by HPLC-UV. The pH dissolution media employed in controlled release studies were 1.0 at 37?°C for 5?h and then at pH 6.8 using the pH change method. Results show that MIPs have a better ability to control the cyproterone release in a physiological medium compared to the non molecularly imprinted polymers (NMIPs).     

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。     

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.     

Preparation of a novel lysozyme molecularly imprinted polymer using uniformly sized functionalized poly(glycidyl methacrylate) microspheres as the matrix and its application to lysozyme purification

A novel lysozyme imprinted polymer based on uniformly sized functionalized poly(glycidyl methacrylate) microspheres has been synthesized in aqueous solution using the surface imprinting technique. The microspheres were modified with hydroxyl ethyl methacrylate to allow for the introduction of polymerizable double bonds, with β‐cyclodextrin and acrylamide being grafted onto the surface as functional monomers. The selective recognition properties of the resulting molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) were investigated by HPLC. Various factors were also investigated in terms of their influence on the retention behaviors of the imprinted polymers, including the pH and salt concentration of the mobile phase. The binding capability properties of the MIPs were evaluated, and the P_GMA/EDMA‐MIPs showed a high adsorption capacity for lysozyme. Furthermore, this MIP was used to separate and enrich lysozyme from egg whites. The results revealed that the lysozyme surface‐modified MIP could be used to efficiently separate and purify lysozyme from egg whites. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Chitosan-Based Surface Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Microspheres for Sustained Release of Sinomenine Hydrochloride in Aqueous Media

The surface molecular imprinting technique has been proposed as a prospective strategy for template molecule recognition and separation by devising the recognition sites on the surface of imprinted materials. The purpose of this study was to establish a novel drug delivery system which was developed by surface molecular imprinting method using β-cyclodextrin (β-CD)-grafted chitosan (CS) (CS-g-β-CD) microspheres as matrix and sinomenine hydrochloride (SM) as the template molecule. By adjusting the amount of functional monomer and cross-linking agent, we got the more excellent adsorption of CS-g-β-CD molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs-CS-g-β-CD). When the amount of functional monomer was 6 mmol and cross-linking agent was 20 mmol, the maximum binding capacity of MIPs and non-imprinted polymers (NIPs) was 55.9 mg/g and 37.2 mg/g, respectively. The results indicated that the recognition of SM with MIPs was superior to NIPs. The adsorption isotherms of MIPs-CS-g-β-CD indicated that the adsorption behavior fitted better to the Langmuir model, which showed that the adsorption process of polymer was monomolecular layer. In in vitro drug release studies, the accumulative release amount of MIPs-CS-g-β-CD was up to 78% within 24 h. MIPs exhibited an excellent controlled SM release profile without burst release and the mechanism of SM release was shown to conform to non-Fick diffusion. Therefore, MIPs-CS-g-β-CD were successfully applied to extraction of SM and used as the materials for drug delivery system.     

Synthesis of tetracycline‐imprinted polymer microspheres by reversible addition–fragmentation chain‐transfer precipitation polymerization using polyethylene glycol as a coporogen

Tetracycline (TC)‐imprinted microspheres have been synthesized by reversible addition–fragmentation chain‐transfer precipitation polymerization using PEG as a coporogen. In the synthesis, methacrylic acid and ethylene dimethacrylate were used as the functional monomer and cross‐linker, respectively. 2,2′‐Azobisisobutyronitrile was the initiator, and cumyl dithiobenzoate was the chain‐transfer reagent. Although monodispersed microspheres were obtained using acetonitrile as porogen, the particles cannot be used in the column extraction because of the high backpressure. To increase the porosity of the material, PEG was introduced as a coporogen. The influence of the molecular weight and concentration of PEG on the morphology, binding affinity, and porosity of the molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) have been studied. The results demonstrated that PEG as a macroporogen increased the porosity of the polymers. Meanwhile, the column backpressure was reduced using the MIPs with higher porosity. The binding affinity of the MIPs was increased when a low concentration of PEG was employed, while it was decreased when the ratio of PEG 12 000/monomers was >0.8%. Under the optimized conditions, TC‐imprinted microspheres with good selectivity and size uniformity have been obtained, which facilitates its application in the column extraction for TC determinations.     

Molecularly Imprinted Polymers: Compromise between Flexibility and Rigidity for Improving Capture of Template Analogues

New synthetic strategies for molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) were developed to mimic the flexibility and mobility exhibited by receptor/enzyme binding pockets. The MIPs were prepared by bulk polymerization with quercetin as template molecule, acrylamide as functional monomer, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as cross‐linker, and THF as porogen. The innovative grafting of specific oligoethylene glycol units onto the imprinted cavities allowed MIPs to be obtained that exhibit extended selectivity towards template analogues. This synthetic strategy gives promising perspectives for the design of molecular recognition of molecules based on a congruent pharmacophore, which should be of interest for drug development.     

Developing imprinted polymer nanoparticles for the selective separation of antidiabetic drugs

In this study, new molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) nanoparticles are designed for selective recognition of different drugs used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus, i.e. sitagliptin (SG) and metformin (MF). The SG‐ and MF‐imprinted polymer nanoparticles are synthesized by free‐radical initiated polymerization of the functional monomers: methacrylic acid and methyl methacrylate; and the crosslinker: ethylene glycol dimethacrylate. The surface morphology of resultant MIP nanoparticles is studied by atomic force microscopy. Fourier transform infrared spectra of MIP nanoparticles suggest the presence of reversible, non‐covalent interactions between the template and the polymer. The effect of pH on the rebinding of antidiabetic drugs with SG‐ and MF‐imprinted polymers is investigated to determine the optimal experimental conditions. The molecular recognition characteristics of SG‐ and MF‐imprinted polymers for the respective drug targets are determined at low concentrations of SG (50–150 ppm) and MF (5–100 ppm). In both cases, the MIP nanoparticles exhibit higher binding response compared to non‐imprinted polymers. Furthermore, the MIPs demonstrate high selectivity with four fold higher responses toward imprinted drugs targets, respectively. Recycled MIP nanoparticles retain 90% of their drug‐binding efficiency, which makes them suitable for successive analyses with significantly preserved recognition features.     

Comparative study of capsaicin molecularly imprinted polymers prepared by different polymerization methods

In this study, the molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) of capsaicin are prepared by bulk polymerization (MIPs1), precipitation polymerization (MIPs2), and surface imprinting technology based on SiO₂/Fe₃O₄ particles (MIPs3), respectively. MIPs are characterized by scanning electron microscopy and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The adsorption kinetics and thermodynamics of these composites are also investigated to estimate their capacity to rebind capsaicin. The adsorption kinetics show that the adsorption process of MIPs1 is fitted to pseudo first‐order kinetic model, while the kinetic properties of MIPs2 and MIPs3 are well described by pseudo second‐order kinetic model. Adsorption thermodynamics analysis indicated that there are two kinds of binding sites with different affinity in each MIPs, whereas only one kind of binding site in non‐imprinted polymers. All adsorption isotherms of MIPs are fitted to Freundlich models, illustrated that binding sites are distributed heterogeneously in the surface of the materials, and the adsorption might occur in the multimolecular layers. Comparisons of experimental data of three MIPs are achieved and the results show that MIPs3 has the best affinity and absorption capacity to capsaicin. Moreover, the MIPs3 maintain the magnetic properties of Fe₃O₄ particles, which will be applied to the rapid separation of capsaicin from chili peppers samples. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019 , 57, 157–164     

Boronate‐Affinity Glycan‐Oriented Surface Imprinting: A New Strategy to Mimic Lectins for the Recognition of an Intact Glycoprotein and Its Characteristic Fragments

Lectins possess unique binding properties and are of particular value in molecular recognition. However, lectins suffer from several disadvantages, such as being hard to prepare and showing poor storage stability. Boronate‐affinity glycan‐oriented surface imprinting was developed as a new strategy for the preparation of lectin‐like molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs). The prepared MIPs could specifically recognize an intact glycoprotein and its characteristic fragments, even within a complex sample matrix. Glycan‐imprinted MIPs could thus prove to be powerful tools for important applications such as proteomics, glycomics, and diagnostics.     

Evidence for shape selectivity in non-covalently imprinted polymers

The existence of shape selectivity in non-covalent molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) has been proven using molecular probes. Twelve secondary amines with different sized side chains were imprinted, and enantioselectivity evaluated by HPLC for each amine on each imprinted polymer. Trends in the quantitative structure-binding relationships (QSBR) revealed two major contributions of cavity structure on selectivity afforded by molecularly imprinted polymers. First, sterics play a dominant role in cases where a molecules structure is too big too fit into an imprinted site formed from a smaller template molecule; e.g. on MIPs made with small templates, large analytes give separation factors (α) close to 1.0 (no selectivity), while small analytes give α values of 1.4. Second, molecular structures that are equal to or smaller than those of the template molecule are selected by maximizing Van der Waals interactions within the MIP binding site. Thus, MIPs made with large analytes give α values up to 2.5, while small analytes on the same MIPs give α values closer to 1.1. Template structure also has an effect on MIP enantioselectivity; e.g. branched structures exhibit a 1.7-fold improvement in separation factors (α) by MIPs made for isopropyl versus propyl derivatives, and cyclohexyl versus hexyl derivatives. Full details of these trends are provided in the text.     

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 .     

Synthesis and characterization of molecularly imprinted polymer for controlled release of tramadol

In this paper, we describe how to prepare a highly selective imprinted polymer by a bulk polymerization technique. We used tramadol as the template, (MAA) as functional monomers, and (EGDMA) as the cross-linker in chloroform as solvent. Results from Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Scanning Electron microscopy (SEM) show that this imprinted sorbent exhibits good recognition and high affinity for tramadol. Selectivity of molecularly imprinted polympers (MIP) was evaluated by comparing several substances with similar molecular structures to that of tramadol. Controlled release of tramadol from MIPs was investigated through in vitro dissolution tests and by measuring the absorbance at λ _max of 272 nm by (HPLC-UV). The dissolution media employed were hydrochloric acid pH 3.0 and phosphate buffers, pH 5.0 and 7.4, maintained at 37 and 25 ± 0.5°C. The results show the ability of MIP polymers to control tramadol release. In all cases, the release of MIPs was deferred for a longer time as compared to NMIP. At a pH of 7.4 and 25°C slower release of tramadol imprinted polymer occurred.      

A High Sensitivity Electrochemical Sensor Based on Fe3+‐Ion Molecularly Imprinted Film for the Detection of T‐2 Toxin

The excellent detection sensitivity in various matrices of T‐2 toxin (T‐2), which has cytotoxic and immunosuppressive effects in DNA and RNA synthesis, is a highly desirable characteristic. A sensitive molecularly imprinted electrochemical sensor was constructed for the selective detection of T‐2. In this study, iron ions (Fe³⁺) were introduced to increase the chelation of the metal ions and templates for preparing molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs). With the increased chelation of the metal ions and templates, the selectivity and sensitivity of the MIPs were effectively improved. The imprinted sensor was successfully employed to detect T‐2 in cereals and human serum samples.     

Screening of 5-HT1A receptor antagonists using molecularly imprinted polymers

Molecular imprinting produces network polymers with recognition sites for imprint molecules. The high binding affinity and selectivity in conjunction with the polymers' physical robustness positions molecular imprinted polymers (MIPs) as candidates for use as preliminary screens in drug discovery. As such, MIPs can serve as crude mimics of native receptors. In an effort to evaluate the relationship between MIPs and native receptors, imprinted polymers for WAY-100635, an antagonist of the serotonin (5-HT) receptor subtype 5-HT1A were prepared. The resulting MIP P(WAY) was evaluated as an affinity matrix in the screening of serotonin receptor antagonists with known affinities for the native receptor. Rough correlations in affinity between the synthetic P(WAY) and native receptor 5-HT1A were found. These findings provide some support for the analogy between MIPs and native receptors and their possible use as surrogates.     

Citrinin selective molecularly imprinted polymers for SPE

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) for citrinin (Cit) with 1‐hydroxy‐2‐naphthoic acid (HNA) as mimic template were prepared and the molecularly imprinted SPE method was developed for the detection of Cit in rice with HPLC. The adsorption properties of HNA and Cit on the MIPs and nonimprinted polymers were investigated. It proved that MIPs showed higher selectivity adsorption to HNA and Cit than nonimprinted polymers were. The recoveries of Cit in rice were in the range of 86.7–97.7%. The spiked rice samples and five rice samples in Beijing market were detected using molecularly imprinted SPE method and satisfied results were obtained as discussed in this article.     

An Artificial Estrogen Receptor through Combinatorial Imprinting

Polymeric sorbents targeting endocrine‐disrupting estrogen active compounds (EAC) were prepared by terpolymer imprinting using 17β‐estradiol (E2) as template. From a group of eight functional monomers representing Brønsted acids, bases, hydrogen‐bond donors and acceptors, as well as π‐interacting monomers, a terpolymer library that comprises all possible binary combinations of the functional monomers was prepared. Binding tests revealed that imprinted polymers exhibit a markedly higher affinity for E2 compared to nonimprinted polymers (NIPs) or polymers prepared by using single functional monomers. A combination of methacrylic acid (MAA) and p‐vinylbenzoic acid offered a particularly promising lead polymer, displaying an imprinting factor of 17 versus 2.4 for a benchmark polymer prepared by using only MAA as functional monomer. The saturation capacities ascribed to imprinted sites were four to five times higher for this polymer compared to previously reported imprinted polymers. NMR titrations and molecular dynamics simulations corroborated these results, indicating an orthogonal preference of the two functional monomers with respect to the E2 3‐OH and 17‐OH groups. The optimized polymer exhibited a retentivity for EACs that correlates with their inhibitory effect on the natural receptor. By using the optimized molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) in a model water‐purification system, they were capable of completely removing ppb levels of a small group of EACs from water. This is in contrast to the performance of nonimprinted polymers and well‐established sorbents for water purification (e.g., active carbon), which still contained detectable amounts of the compounds after treatment.