Molecularly imprinted polymers targeting quercetin in high-temperature aqueous solutions

Area of Science:

• Polymer Chemistry
• Analytical Chemistry
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Quercetin, a prevalent flavonoid, possesses significant health benefits.
• Developing selective and efficient methods for quercetin detection is crucial for its analysis in various matrices.
• Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) offer a promising approach for targeted molecular recognition.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) for selective quercetin recognition in aqueous systems at elevated temperatures.
• To optimize MIP synthesis conditions, focusing on solvent systems and temperature effects.
• To evaluate the performance of MIPs in terms of binding capacity, selectivity, and application in real samples.

Main Methods:

• MIPs were synthesized using 4-vinylpyridine and ethylene dimethacrylate (EDMA) in a THF/H2O/MeOH solvent system.
• Polymer characterization involved infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and scanning electron microscopy.
• Binding capacity and selectivity were assessed in batch mode at 25 °C and 84 °C, with investigations into pH and extraction time.

Main Results:

• A MIP synthesized in a three-component solvent system exhibited high recognition for quercetin.
• Binding capacity significantly increased with temperature, reaching ~120 μmol g⁻¹ at 84 °C for MIP compared to ~30 μmol g⁻¹ at 25 °C.
• The MIP demonstrated retained selectivity for quercetin against other flavonols and in preliminary analyses of yellow onion extracts.

Conclusions:

• The developed MIPs are effective for quercetin determination in aqueous systems, particularly at high temperatures.
• Elevated temperatures enhance the mass transfer and binding capacity of MIPs for quercetin.
• The MIPs show potential for practical applications in analyzing quercetin content in food and plant samples.