Characterization of molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles by photon correlation spectroscopy

We follow template-binding induced aggregation of nanoparticles enantioselectively imprinted against (S)-propranolol, and the non-imprinted ones, using photon correlation spectroscopy (dynamic light scattering). The method requires no separation steps. We have characterized binding of (R,S)-propranolol to the imprinted polymers and determined the degree of non-specificity by comparing the specific binding with the results obtained using non-imprinted nanoparticles. Using (S)-propranolol as a template for binding to (S)-imprinted nanoparticle, and (R)-propranolol as a non-specific control, we have determined range of concentrations where chiral recognition can be observed. By studying aggregation induced by three analytes related to propranolol, atenolol, betaxolol, and 1-amino-3-(naphthalen-1-yloxy)propan-2-ol, we were able to determine which parts of the template are involved in the specific binding, discuss several details of specific adsorption, and the structure of the imprinted site.