Improving affinity of imprinted monolithic polymer prepared in deep eutectic solvent by metallic pivot

Area of Science:

• Polymer Chemistry
• Green Chemistry
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Conventional molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) often require volatile organic solvents, posing environmental and safety concerns.
• Deep eutectic solvents (DES) offer a greener alternative, but their application in MIP synthesis needs further optimization for selectivity.
• Developing selective adsorbents for drug extraction remains a critical challenge in pharmaceutical analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize a highly selective MIP monolithic column using a DES-based porogen system.
• To investigate the effect of a metallic pivot strategy on MIP affinity and selectivity.
• To evaluate the performance of the developed MIP for cetirizine extraction.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of a cetirizine-imprinted polymer (MIP) using a DES (choline chloride/ethylene glycol) and a metallic pivot (Co(Ac)2).
• Characterization of MIP morphology and pore structure.
• Evaluation of the MIP's imprinting factor and its application in cetirizine extraction from ethanol solution.

Main Results:

• The DES-based MIP with a metallic pivot exhibited a 23.5-fold higher imprinting factor compared to the Co2+-free MIP.
• DES significantly influenced MIP morphology and pore structure, leading to improved performance.
• The developed DES-Co2+-MIP demonstrated high selectivity and efficient extraction of cetirizine with 97.8% recovery.

Conclusions:

• The metallic pivot strategy is effective in enhancing the selectivity of DES-based MIPs.
• DES serves as a crucial factor in tailoring MIP properties for superior performance.
• This novel approach offers a promising green and efficient method for selective molecular recognition and separation.