Molecularly imprinted polymers: modulating molecular recognition by a thermal phase transition in the binding framework.
The concept used to realize the modulation of molecular recognition in a molecularly imprinted polymer is presented. Creating a thermal phase transition within the binding framework, the imprinted material was prepared using Boc-phenylalanine as the template and pNIPAM as the sensitive unit. The results indicate that such a transition causes a clear modulation in the recognition behavior of the prepared polymer which depends on the operation temperature. At a relatively low temperature, the prepared polymer acts like a traditionally imprinted one, showing a highly specific recognition for the imprint species. However, the prepared polymer does not present any notable resolution at 40 degrees C. This recognition behavior is comparable to a process that can be switched on and off, thus making modulated recognition feasible.
Li
Songjun
S
Key Laboratory of Pesticide and Chemical Biology of Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, China. Lsjchem@yahoo.com.cn
Huang
Xing
X
Zheng
Mingxia
M
Li
Wuke
W
D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D000327:Adsorption; D005563:Formic Acid Esters / Q000737:chemistry; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D007700:Kinetics; D008027:Light; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D054802:Molecular Imprinting / Q000379:methods*; D010649:Phenylalanine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D013055:Spectrophotometry, Infrared; D013379:Substrate Specificity; D013696:Temperature
D000180:Acrylic Resins; D005563:Formic Acid Esters; C000345:t-butyloxycarbonyl group; C052970:poly-N-isopropylacrylamide; D010649:Phenylalanine