title: Phenylalanine detection using matrix assisted pulsed laser evaporation of molecularly imprinted amphiphilic block copolymer films.
abstract: Matrix assisted pulsed laser evaporation was used to deposit molecularly imprinted polymer films of an amphiphilic block copolymer imprinted with an amino acid. This method avoids the need for a common solvent for host and template, and permits fabrication of layers with controlled thicknesses in the nanometer range. Polystyrene-block-polyethylene oxide copolymer and phenylalanine template were co-deposited onto surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensors from a water/toluene emulsion. FTIR confirmed removal and reintroduction of phenylalanine, and SPR measurements were used for quantitative analysis. A binding ratio of more than 10 was obtained for phenylalanine on imprinted sensors vs. the non-imprinted control surfaces of the same polymer, and a detection limit of 0.5 mM phenylalanine was established. Exposure of sensors to alanine, glutamine, tryptophan, and tyrosine demonstrated that the sensors were highly specific.
authors.affiliation: Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA.
authors.forename: Catherine N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Casey
authors.forename: Sara E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: Ursula J
authors.initials: UJ
authors.lastname: Gibson
mesh_terms: D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D007834:Lasers; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D010649:Phenylalanine; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D020349:Surface Plasmon Resonance / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D011108:Polymers; D010649:Phenylalanine