Consequences of morphology on molecularly imprinted polymer-ligand recognition

Int J Mol Sci. 2013 Jan 9;14(1):1207-17. doi: 10.3390/ijms14011207.

Abstract

The relationship between molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) morphology and template-rebinding over a series of warfarin-imprinted methacrylic acid co(ethylene dimethacrylate) polymers has been explored. Detailed investigations of the nature of template recognition revealed that an optimal template binding was obtained with polymers possessing a narrow population of pores (~3-4 nm) in the mesopore size range. Importantly, the warfarin-polymer rebinding analyses suggest strategies for regulating ligand binding capacity and specificity through variation of the degree of cross-linking, where polymers prepared with a lower degree of cross-linking afford higher capacity though non-specific in character. In contrast, the co-existence of specific and non-specific binding was found in conjunction with higher degrees of cross-linking and resultant meso- and macropore size distributions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adsorption
  • Cross-Linking Reagents / chemistry*
  • Cross-Linking Reagents / metabolism
  • Isomerism
  • Ligands
  • Methacrylates / chemistry*
  • Methacrylates / metabolism
  • Molecular Imprinting / methods*
  • Molecular Structure
  • Nitrogen / chemistry
  • Polymers / chemistry*
  • Polymers / metabolism
  • Porosity
  • Radioligand Assay
  • Temperature
  • Warfarin / chemistry
  • Warfarin / metabolism

Substances

  • Cross-Linking Reagents
  • Ligands
  • Methacrylates
  • Polymers
  • Warfarin
  • ethylene dimethacrylate
  • Nitrogen