title: Synthesis of Quercetin-imprinted Polymer Spherical Particles with Improved Ability to Capture Quercetin Analogues.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are composed of specific cavities able to selectively recognise a template molecule. Used as chromatographic sorbents, MIPs may not trap related structures due to the high rigidity of their cross-linking.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To improve the capture of quercetin analogues by modulating the synthesis strategy for a quercetin-imprinted polymer (Qu MIP).
  
  
  METHODS
  An additional comonomer bearing a short oligoethylene glycol (OEG) unit was used to prepare a Qu MIP that was compared to a traditional one formulated in a similar fashion, but without the OEG-comonomer. The Qu MIPs were prepared in bead form through fluorocarbon suspension polymerisation. After solid phase extraction (SPE) assessment of their imprinted cavities, the MIPs were evaluated by HPLC for their recognition properties towards quercetin and other polyphenols, including flavonoids, phenolic acids and curcumin. The Qu MIPs were finally SPE-tested on a white onion extract.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incorporation of OEG units modulated the selectivity of the Qu MIP by improving the recognition of quercetin related structures (12-61% increase in the imprinting effect for distant analogues). It also allowed limiting or suppressing non-specific hydrophobic interactions (decrease of about 10% in the rate of quercetin retention on the non-imprinted polymer). The SPE application of the MIP to a white onion extract indicates its interest for the selective extraction of quercetin and its analogues.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The OEG-modified Qu MIP appears to be an attractive tool to discover new drug candidates from natural sources by extracting, amongst interfering compounds, structural analogues of quercetin. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Therapeutic Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Mons - UMONS, Place du Parc 20, 7000, Mons, Belgium.|Centre of Innovation and Research in Materials and Polymers (CIRMAP), Laboratory of Polymeric and Composite Materials, University of Mons - UMONS, Place du Parc 20, 7000, Mons, Belgium.|Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Analysis, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Mons - UMONS, Place du Parc 20, 7000, Mons, Belgium.
authors.forename: Antonelle
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pardo
authors.affiliation: Centre of Innovation and Research in Materials and Polymers (CIRMAP), Laboratory of Polymeric and Composite Materials, University of Mons - UMONS, Place du Parc 20, 7000, Mons, Belgium.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Josse
authors.affiliation: Centre of Innovation and Research in Materials and Polymers (CIRMAP), Laboratory of Polymeric and Composite Materials, University of Mons - UMONS, Place du Parc 20, 7000, Mons, Belgium.
authors.forename: Laetitia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mespouille
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Analysis, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Mons - UMONS, Place du Parc 20, 7000, Mons, Belgium.
authors.forename: Bertrand
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Blankert
authors.affiliation: Centre of Innovation and Research in Materials and Polymers (CIRMAP), Laboratory of Polymeric and Composite Materials, University of Mons - UMONS, Place du Parc 20, 7000, Mons, Belgium.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dubois
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Therapeutic Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Mons - UMONS, Place du Parc 20, 7000, Mons, Belgium.
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Duez
mesh_terms: D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D058105:Polymerization; D011108:Polymers / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D059808:Polyphenols / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011794:Quercetin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D052616:Solid Phase Extraction
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers; D059808:Polyphenols; D011794:Quercetin
keywords: Allium cepa L.; Curcumin; MIPs; Quercetin; oligoethylene glycol