Abstract: Abstract: An approach using systematic component optimization for the formation of a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) has been adopted to imprint albumin. The result was a copolymer comprising 3-dimethylaminopropyl methacrylate and pentaerythritol tetraacrylate in a mole ratio of 1 to 11. Myoglobin was used in competitive re-binding experiments to compete with the polymer’s native template. The effects of monomer to crosslinker mole ratio, polymerization temperature and time were investigated. These results also showed that the MIP possessed a high selectivity and adsorption capacity with respect to albumin in competitive binding protocols when the interfering species was also present in solution. Polymerization temperature and time were all shown to have significant effects on the resulting albumin-MIP’s performance. Additionally, higher polymerization temperatures (> 38 °C) and extended polymerization times (> 48 h) increased monomer conversion as determined by HPLC, but decreased the selectivity and adsorption capacity of the MIP
Template and target information: protein, albumin
Author keywords: molecular imprinted polymer, albumin, aqueous media, synthesis