Molecularly Imprinted Cryogels for the Selective Adsorption of Salicylic Acid

In this study, molecularly imprinted cryogels were fabricated for selective adsorption of salicylic acid. Cryogelation was performed at - 20 °C using a cationic monomer N,N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate as a functional monomer for salicylic acid. The morphology, swelling behaviors, and chemical structures of the cryogels were investigated. The general structure and porosities of cryogels were compared with the traditional hydrogels using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The adsorption performance of cryogels toward salicylic acid was studied to investigate the optimal adsorption conditions. Adsorption capacity of the imprinted cryogels was 1.95 and 7.51 times higher than those of non-imprinted and bare PHEMA cryogels, respectively, due to the specific binding sites toward salicylic acid. Molecularly imprinted cryogels exhibited significant stability and reusability by keeping more than 85% of their adsorption capacity after ten regeneration cycles. Considering the fabrication process, adsorption capacity, selectivity, and reusability of the imprinted cryogels, these new materials could be utilized as a promising alternative for selective adsorption of drug molecules.