Noncovalent imprinting in the shell of core-shell nanoparticles

Area of Science:

• Polymer Chemistry
• Analytical Chemistry
• Materials Science

Background:

• Molecular imprinting enables selective recognition of target molecules.
• Core-shell nanoparticles offer unique properties for advanced applications.
• Propranolol is a widely used beta-blocker with implications for therapeutic drug monitoring.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create noncovalent core-shell imprinted nanoparticles for propranolol.
• To investigate the influence of toluene as a porogenic agent on imprinting efficiency.
• To evaluate the rebinding capacity and affinity of the imprinted nanoparticles.

Main Methods:

• Aqueous emulsion polymerization was used to synthesize core-shell nanoparticles.
• Noncovalent imprinting with propranolol as the template molecule.
• Characterization of nanoparticles including surface area analysis.
• Rebinding studies in organic and aqueous media.
• Binding site affinity assessment using radioligand displacement.

Main Results:

• Toluene presence during imprinting significantly increased propranolol rebinding (2-3 fold).
• Toluene influenced nanoparticle surface area and rebinding efficiency.
• Binding site affinity (IC50) was in the 1-10 microM range.
• Incorporated fluorescence in the core did not affect imprinting or rebinding.

Conclusions:

• Core-shell imprinted nanoparticles show promise for propranolol detection.
• Toluene acts as an effective porogenic agent, enhancing imprinting performance.
• Structured nanoparticles with integrated functionalities are advantageous for analytical applications.