Water-compatible molecularly imprinted polymers (AquaMIP)

Aim

The objective of this EU sponsored research training network involving eight European research groups was the development of water compatible molecularly imprinted polymers including biologically important target molecules. This should lead to new superior methods for the determination and separation of a number of environmentally, pharmaceutically, clinically, dietary and forensically relevant target analytes.

Approach

The results obtained via implementing new techniques and methods should be compared to those obtained via established methods of preparing MIPs with pronounced and well-documented recognition properties. In AquaMIP, the properties of the polymers prepared via the standard monolith method serve as a bench-mark with which the properties of the new materials were compared. The consortium consist of three core synthesis groups, three analytical user groups and two characterisation groups. The network is coordinated by Dortmund (INFU). All analytical teams of the consortium receive from the synthesis teams at an early stage of the project materials (MIPs) prepared against small target analytes or model compounds according to the flow chart in Fig. 17. In parallel to this work the model systems are subjected to fundamental characterization by the characterization teams.

Structure of the AquaMIP-consortium

Results

Among others, the suppression of non-specific binding in MISPE of low molecular weight drugs (P1, P2, P7, P8) was investigated. A technique allowing high throughput synthesis and evaluation of MIP sorbents at a reduced scale (mini-MIPs) developed by P1 was used for the optimization of MIPs for use in pure aqueous environments (Fig. 18). The system was used successfully leading to water compatible polymers for the local anesthetic Bupivacaine (BV) (P7) and the lipophilic drug Sildenafil (Viagra) (P8).

Principle of high throughput synthesis and evaluation of MIP libraries

One task concerns the evaluation of novel formats for MIPs that have shown promise concerning overcoming their most common limitations. This includes ease of preparation, template bleeding, mass transfer and site accessibility finally aiming at biomacromolecule recognition. Thus, five formats, all based on polymers imprinted with Bupivacaine (BV) as a model template, were compared by P5 in terms of chromatographic efficiency, imprinting factors, water compatibility, frontal analysis chromatography and batch-to-batch reproducibility.

Furthermore, a substructure approach for the recognition of peptides, modified peptides or proteins (P1, P6)was investigated.
Some analytical applications of the new water compatible MIPs for BV (P7) and Sildenafil (P8) were implemented in analytical methods enabling the development of an on-line system for direct extraction at better recoveries than the conventional materials.

Funding

Research Training Network funded via the European Unions IHP programme:
Contract number: HRPN-CT-2002-00189
Period: 1.9.2002-31.8.2006

Continuation of Module 4:
DFG Se777/9-1 (2006-2009)

Contact

Priv.-Doz. Dr. Börje Sellergren
B.Sellergren@infu.uni-dortmund.de
Phone: +49-(0)231-755-4082

Dipl.-Chem. Sudhirkumar Shinde
S.Shinde@infu.uni-dortmund.de
Phone: +49-(0)231-755-6114

Paper

1. Hall, A. J.; Manesiotis, P.; Emgenbroich, M.; Quaglia, M.; De Lorenzi, E.; Sellergren, B. (2005):
   "Urea Host Monomers for Stoichiometric Molecular Imprinting of Oxyanions" Journal of Organic Chemistry, 70, 1732-1736.

2. Hall, A. J.; Quaglia, M.; Manesiotis, De Lorenzi, E. P.; Sellergren, B. (2006):
   "Polymeric Receptors for the Recognition of Folic Acid and Related Compounds via Substructure Imprinting" Anal. Chem., 78, 8362-8367.