title: Encapsulation and selective recognition of molecularly imprinted theophylline and 17beta-estradiol nanoparticles within electrospun polymer nanofibers.
abstract: Molecularly imprinted nanoparticles are cross-linked polymer colloids containing tailor-made molecular recognition sites. In this study, molecularly imprinted nanoparticles were easily encapsulated within polymer nanofibers using an electrospinning technique to produce a new type of molecular recognition material. Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) was used as the supporting nanofibers matrix to encapsulate theophylline and 17beta-estradiol imprinted nanoparticles. The composite nanofibers had an average diameter of 150-300 nm, depending on the content of molecularly imprinted nanoparticles. For the theophylline and 17beta-estradiol imprinted polymers, an optimal loading of molecularly imprinted nanoparticles was 25-37.5 wt % based on PET. The composite nanofibers prepared under these conditions had a well-defined morphology and displayed the best selective target recognition. Our approach of electrospinning-for-molecularly imprinted nanoparticles-encapsulation has unique advantages and opens new application opportunities for molecularly imprinted nanoparticles and electrospun nanofibers.
authors.affiliation: IFP Research, Swedish Institute for Fiber and Polymer Research, Box 104, SE 431 22 Mölndal, Sweden. ioannis.chronakis@ifp.se
authors.forename: Ioannis S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Chronakis
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jakob
authors.forename: Bengt
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hagström
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ye
mesh_terms: D004583:Electrons; D004958:Estradiol / Q000737:chemistry*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D015394:Molecular Structure; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D043942:Nanotubes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates; D013806:Theophylline / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D011091:Polyesters; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D004958:Estradiol; D013806:Theophylline