Thermoresponsive ketoprofen-imprinted monolith prepared in ionic liquid

Area of Science:

• Polymer Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are crucial for selective analyte recognition.
• Thermoresponsive polymers offer tunable binding properties based on temperature.
• Challenges exist in preparing MIPs with high capacity and selectivity, especially for polar analytes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize a novel thermoresponsive imprinted monolith for ketoprofen.
• To investigate the temperature-dependent molecular recognition ability of the MIP.
• To optimize the preparation method, including the use of ionic liquids to manage solvent properties.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of a thermoresponsive MIP monolith in a stainless steel column using acrylamide (AAm) and 2-acrylamide-2-methyl propanesulfonic acid (AMPS).
• Incorporation of an ionic liquid ([BMIM]BF4) to improve solvent properties and reduce back pressure.
• Evaluation of molecular recognition performance at different temperatures (25°C and 35°C) and comparison with a non-imprinted polymer (NIP).

Main Results:

• The MIP monolith demonstrated significant temperature-dependent molecular recognition of ketoprofen.
• The highest imprinting factor was observed at 35°C, indicating enhanced binding affinity.
• Binding sites increased approximately 76-fold at 35°C compared to 25°C, with homogeneous affinity distribution.

Conclusions:

• A novel thermoresponsive MIP monolith capable of selective ketoprofen recognition was successfully prepared.
• The developed material exhibits tunable binding properties, with optimal performance at 35°C.
• The use of ionic liquids facilitated the synthesis of a high-performance imprinted column.