Thermochemical study of amino acid imprinted polymer films

Molecularly imprinted polymers provide an alternative to traditional methods of amino acid analysis. The imprinted polymers are more robust and significantly less expensive than, for example, ELISA analysis. Amino acid imprinted nylon-6 thin films were studied by differential scanning calorimetry and scanning electron microscopy. Endothermic peaks were observed for imprinted films at temperatures higher than that for pure nylon, indicating the formation of a more-ordered, hydrogen bonded polymer. Removal of the amino acid from the imprinted film resulted in reversion to the peak observed for pure nylon-6. Additives, β-cyclodextrin and multiwalled carbon nanotubes, were added to the imprinted polymer solutions as a means to increase the porosity of the films. These studies resulted in alternative morphologies and calorimetric results that provide additional functionalities and applications for imprinted polymers.