Influence of salt ions on binding to molecularly imprinted polymers

Salt ions were found to have an influence on template binding to two model molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs), targeted to penicillin G and propranolol, respectively, in water–acetonitrile mixtures. Water was detrimental to rebinding of penicillin G whereas propranolol bound in the entire water–acetonitrile range tested. In 100% aqueous solution, 3-M salt solutions augmented the binding of both templates. The effects followed the Hofmeister series with kosmotropic ions promoting the largest increase. Binding was mainly of a non-specific nature under these conditions. In acetonitrile containing low amounts of water, the specific binding to the MIPs increased with the addition of salts. Binding of penicillin G followed the Hofmeister series while an ion-exchange mechanism was observed for propranolol. The results suggest that hydration of kosmotropic ions reduces the water activity in water-poor media providing a stabilizing effect on water-sensitive MIP–template interactions. The effects were utilized to develop a procedure for molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction (MISPE) of penicillin G from milk with a recovery of 87%.