Photochemical molecular imprinting of cholesterol

Cinnamoylated photocrosslinkable cyclodextrin derivatives (BCC) were synthesized by the substitution of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) with cinnamoyl chloride (CC) and crosslinked with either hexamethylenediisocyanate (HMDI) or toluenediisocyanate (TDI). Cyclodextrin rings were substituted with one or two cinnamoyl moieties, as found from mass spectrometry. The polymeric matrix with cholesterol molecular imprint was obtained on irradiation of molecular assembly formed by the cinnamoyl-functionalized β-cyclodextrin-cholesterol with light at 275 nm, absorbed exclusively by the cinnamoyl chromophores. Irradiation induced crosslinking due to the photodimerization of the cinnamoyl moieties. To determine the adsorption properties of the produced material imprinting was performed in the presence of tritiated cholesterol and the intensity of β radiation from the material was measured. The materials obtained by the adsorption of tritiated cholesterol by nonirradiated polymer were used as controls. It was found that the polymer photocrosslinked in the presence of cholesterol have shown a considerable higher adsorption capacity for cholesterol than the control materials. This confirmed successful formation of molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) by photochemical crosslinking. The selectivity of imprinting was also confirmed using compounds of similar structures, i.e. ergosterol, dehydroergosterol, and Vitamin D.