分子インプリントポリマーベースHPLCカラムおよびスマートシリンジを用いた複合植物抽出物からのケルセチンの選択的抽出：持続可能かつグリーンなアプローチ

Quercetin (QR) is a bioactive flavonoid naturally present in various fruits and vegetables, known for its potent antioxidant, antidiabetic, and anti-inflammatory activities. Efficient and sustainable extraction of QR is essential for its wide-ranging applications as a nutraceutical; however, conventional extraction techniques are often time-consuming, solvent-intensive, and environmentally unfriendly. In this study, a quercetin-imprinted polymer (QR-MIP) was synthesized via bulk polymerization using 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) as the functional monomer and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as the crosslinker. The resulting polymer was characterized by SEM, FT-IR, BET, and TGA to confirm its morphological, structural, and thermal properties. Batch rebinding experiments revealed that the QR-MIP exhibited a high binding capacity of 26.7 mg/g, markedly exceeding that of the non-imprinted polymer (6.9 mg/g), with an imprinting factor of 3.8. The adsorption behavior was well-described by the Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetic model, indicating homogeneous and specific binding interactions. Selectivity assessments demonstrated the superior molecular recognition of QR-MIP toward quercetin compared to structurally similar analogs, confirming the presence of specific imprinting sites. The developed MIP was successfully integrated into an HPLC column and a smart syringe system for selective extraction and preconcentration of quercetin from complex matrices utilizing a low volume of less toxic tetrahydrofuran The proposed approach enables sustainable multi-cycle purification while consuming only a few milliliters of organic solvent, in contrast to the liters typically required in conventional protocols. This work presents a novel, green, and cost-effective approach for targeted enrichment of quercetin, offering promising potential for the selective isolation of other nutraceuticals and natural bioactive compounds.