Application of non-specific fluorescent dyes for monitoring enantio-selective ligand binding to molecularly imprinted polymers

The displacement of non-specific dyes from molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) chromatographic stationary phases has been used for the detection and quantification of ligand-polymer binding events. A blank polymer and an L-phenylalaninamide-imprinted polymer were prepared using methacrylic acid as the functional monomer and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as a crosslinker. The MIP is first loaded with dye, and a solution of the dye in the eluent is passed through the MIP. If analyte is injected into the dye solution in the eluent, part of the dye is competitively replaced by the analyte from the MIP. Specifically, the competitive displacement of rhodamine B by amino acids and phenylalaninamide (Phe-NH₂), respectively, has been studied under polar and hydrophobic elution conditions. Enantioselective binding of Phe and Phe-NH₂ to the imprinted polymer was shown to occur in the micromolar concentration range. It is proposed that the displacement of non-specific dyes from MIPs be used for the development of multisensors based upon these highly specific and stable materials, which provide promising alternatives to the use of biological macromolecules in sensor technology. Received: 24 November 1998 / Revised: 29 January 1999 / Accepted: 2 February 1999