Sulfonate-bonded covalent organic polymer as mixed-mode sorbent for on-line solid-phase extraction of ß2-receptor agonists

A novel sulfonate-bonded covalent organic polymer (COP_TPBA-BPDA@SA) with mixed-mode interactions of hydrophobic and cation-exchange was synthesized and exploited as sorbent for on-line solid-phase extraction (on-line SPE) of ß₂-receptor agonists. The successful synthesis of COP_TPBA-BPDA@SA was confirmed by the characterization of SEM, XPS and FT-IR. Due to the excellent mixed-mode extraction ability towards the positively charged ß₂-receptor agonists and the good anti-interference performance, COP_TPBA-BPDA@SA was introduced into on-line SPE-HPLC system for selective extraction of ß₂-receptor agonists in pork and pork liver. Via the optimization of the extraction condition, including formic acid percentage and ACN percentage in the sampling solution, the mixed-mode extraction mechanism of COP_TPBA-BPDA@SA was investigated. The elution condition, such as the pH value, formic acid percentage and ACN percentage of the eluent was also optimized for the desired SPE performance. Under the optimized condition, COP_TPBA-BPDA@SA revealed better purification performance than COP_TPBA-BPDA without sulfonating. The LODs for ß₂-receptor agonists were in the range of 0.08-0.22 μg/kg, and the recoveries in different samples at three spiked levels (0.4, 4.0, 8.0 μg/kg) were ranged from 83.2% to 98.5% with RSDs less than 5.2%, which indicated the satisfactory mixed-mode extraction ability of COP_TPBA-BPDA@SA as well as the good applicability of the developed method.

Reproducible Molecularly Imprinted Piezoelectric Sensor for Accurate and Sensitive Detection of Ractopamine in Swine and Feed Products

This paper describes the development of a reproducible molecularly imprinted piezoelectric sensor for the accurate and sensitive detection of ractopamine (RAC) in swine and feed products. The synthesized molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) was directly immobilized on the surface of a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) Au chip as the recognition element. The experimental parameters in the fabrication, measurement and regeneration process were evaluated in detail to produce an MIP-based piezoelectric sensor with high sensing capability. The developed piezoelectric sensor was verified to perform favorably in the RAC analysis of swine and feed products, with acceptable accuracy (recovery: 75.9⁻93.3%), precision [relative standard deviation (n = 3): 2.3⁻6.4%], and sensitivity [limit of detection: 0.46 ng g-1 (swine) and 0.38 ng g-1 (feed)]. This portable MIP-based chip for the piezoelectric sensing of RAC could be reused for at least 30 cycles and easily stored for a long time. These results demonstrated that the developed MIP-based piezoelectric sensor presents an accurate, sensitive and cost-effective method for the quantitative detection of RAC in complex samples. This research offers a promising strategy for the development of novel effective devices used for use in food safety analysis.

Preparation of molecularly imprinted polymers using theanine as dummy template and its application as SPE sorbent for the determination of eighteen amino acids in tobacco

In this paper, a novel dummy template molecularly imprinted polymer (DMIP) based on a vinyl-SiO2 microspheres surface for the simultaneous selective recognition and enrichment of 18 amino acids was prepared via a surface molecular imprinting technique using theanine as a dummy template. Compared to the imprinted polymers prepared using traditional polymerization techniques, the obtained DMIPs exhibited a regular spherical shape and were relatively monodisperse. The maximal sorption capacity (Qmax) of the resulting DMIPs for the 18 amino acids was up to 1444.3 mg g(-1). A kinetic binding study showed that the sorption capacity reached 85.40% of Qmax in 25 min and sorption equilibrium at 30 min. The imprint factors of the sorbents ranged from 2.86 to 6.9 for the 18 amino acids, which indicated that the DMIP sorbents have high selectivity. An HPLC-UV method for the simultaneous determination of 18 amino acids in tobacco and tobacco smoke was developed using the DMIPs as sorbents for solid phase extraction (SPE) in the sample pretreatment procedure. Under the optimum experimental conditions, the materials had enrichment factors of up to 200 for the amino acids, and the recoveries of the 18 amino acids in tobacco smoke were in the range from 79% to 104% with relative standard deviations of less than 7.4%. It indicated that the obtained DMIP sorbents could specifically recognize the amino acids from complicated samples.

Molecular imprinting science and technology: a survey of the literature for the years 2004-2011

Herein, we present a survey of the literature covering the development of molecular imprinting science and technology over the years 2004-2011. In total, 3779 references to the original papers, reviews, edited volumes and monographs from this period are included, along with recently identified uncited materials from prior to 2004, which were omitted in the first instalment of this series covering the years 1930-2003. In the presentation of the assembled references, a section presenting reviews and monographs covering the area is followed by sections describing fundamental aspects of molecular imprinting including the development of novel polymer formats. Thereafter, literature describing efforts to apply these polymeric materials to a range of application areas is presented. Current trends and areas of rapid development are discussed.

Flow-injection chemiluminescence method to detect a β2 adrenergic agonist

A new method for the detection of β2 adrenergic agonists was developed based on the chemiluminescence (CL) reaction of β2 adrenergic agonist with potassium ferricyanide-luminol CL. The effect of β2 adrenergic agonists including isoprenaline hydrochloride, salbutamol sulfate, terbutaline sulfate and ractopamine on the CL intensity of potassium ferricyanide-luminol was discovered. Detection of the β2 adrenergic agonist was carried out in a flow system. Using uniform design experimentation, the influence factors of CL were optimized. The optimal experimental conditions were 1 mmol/L of potassium ferricyanide, 10 µmol/L of luminol, 1.2 mmol/L of sodium hydroxide, a flow speed of 2.6 mL/min and a distance of 1.2 cm from 'Y2 ' to the flow cell. The linear ranges and limit of detection were 10-100 and 5 ng/mL for isoprenaline hydrochloride, 20-100 and 5 ng/mL for salbutamol sulfate, 8-200 and 1 ng/mL for terbutaline sulfate, 20-100 and 4 ng/mL for ractopamine, respectively. The proposed method allowed 200 injections/h with excellent repeatability and precision. It was successfully applied to the determination of three β2 adrenergic agonists in commercial pharmaceutical formulations with recoveries in the range of 96.8-98.5%. The possible CL reaction mechanism of potassium ferricyanide-luminol-β2 adrenergic agonist was discussed from the UV/vis spectra.

Determination of α-tocopherol in vegetable oils using a molecularly imprinted polymers-surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopic biosensor

We report the development of a novel hybrid "capture-detection" molecularly imprinted polymers-surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopic (MIPs-SERS) biosensor for the detection and quantification of α-tocopherol (α-Toc) in vegetable oils. α-Toc served as the template for MIPs synthesis. Methacrylic acid formed as the functional monomer. Ethylene glycol dimethacrylate was the cross-linking agent, and 2,2'-azobisisobutyronitrile was used as the initiator. The synthesized MIPs functioned to rapidly and selectively adsorb and separate α-Toc from oil components. We validated a dendritic silver nanostructure synthesized by a displacement reaction to be a suitable SERS substrate for the enhancement of Raman signals. Second-derivative transformations and chemometric models based upon SERS spectral features confirmed the possibility of a rapid and precise detection and quantification of different spiking levels of α-Toc in four different sources of vegetable oils (Mahalanobis distance from 15.93 to 34.01 for PCA model; R > 0.92, RMSE < 0.41 for PLSR model). The MIPs-SERS biosensor had a high sensitivity as well as a good recovery for α-Toc analysis in vegetable oils. The entire analysis required 15 min or less to complete with limited sample preparation.

Chemometric optimization of cation-selective exhaustive injection sweeping micellar electrokinetic chromatography for quantification of ractopamine in porcine meat

An online stacking capillary electrophoresis (CE) method, cation-selective exhaustive injection sweeping micellar electrokinetic chromatography (CSEI-sweep-MEKC), is developed and optimized for analysis of ractopamine (RP) and its homologue dehydroxyractopamine (DRP) in porcine meat. Chemometric experimental design was used to achieve the best possible optimization and reduce the number of trials and errors. The CSEI-sweep-MEKC method enables nanogram per gram level analysis, with limits of detection (LODs) in meat of 5 ng/g for RP and 3 ng/g for DRP (S/N = 3). A higher conductivity buffer (HCB) zone was injected into the capillary, allowing for the analytes to be electrokinetically injected at a voltage of 9 kV for 12 min. Using 125 mM sodium dodecyl sulfate and 15% methanol in the sweeping buffer, RP and DRP were well-separated. The method was validated with a linear calibration curve of 10-300 ng/g (r > 0.994). In comparison to the normal capillary zone electrophoresis method (1 psi for 10 s), this stacking strategy resulted in 900 times sensitivity enhancement. This technique was further applied for analyzing seven kinds of commercial meats, and the residual RP was detected in one (5.76 ng/g of RP). The data were corresponding to the data analyzed by the commercial testing kit and mass spectrometry spectra. This method was successfully used on real samples and is considered feasible for serving as a tool for routine examination in markets.

Effective separation of dopamine from bananas on 2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)ethylamine imprinted polymer

A 2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)ethylamine imprinted polymer (MIP(pt) ) was prepared via the precipitation polymerization together with a nonimprinted polymer (NIP). The morphology of particles was investigated by scanning electron microscopy and the specific surface areas were estimated by methylene blue adsorption (60.5 ± 3.5 and 36.9 ± 1.2 m(2)/g for MIP(pt) and NIP, respectively). The binding experiments were performed to determine the binding capacity of MIP(pt)/NIP particles toward dopamine. Next, the effects of solvents on loading, washing, and eluting steps were examined on solid-phase extraction (SPE). Methanol-water 85:15 v/v (loading step), methanol (washing step), and 0.04 M aqueous ammonium acetate-methanol 30:70 v/v (eluting step) were selected as the most effective systems. Described SPE protocol was successfully applied for separation of dopamine on 2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)ethylamine imprinted particles. Finally, the molecularly imprinted polymer was used for determination of dopamine in spiked banana extract. The total recovery of dopamine from MIP(pt) was equal to 88.5 ± 4.6%, but from NIP was only 12.8 ± 2.3%. The developed material and method were demonstrated to be applicable for the separation of dopamine from bananas. The commercial sorbent C18 was not suitable to such application.

Separation and enrichment of trace ractopamine in biological samples by uniformly-sized molecularly imprinted polymers

In order to prepare a high capacity packing material for solid-phase extraction with specific recognition ability of trace ractopamine in biological samples, uniformly-sized, molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) were prepared by a multi-step swelling and polymerization method using methacrylic acid as a functional monomer, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as a cross-linker, and toluene as a porogen respectively. Scanning electron microscope and specific surface area were employed to identify the characteristics of MIPs. Ultraviolet spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Scatchard analysis and kinetic study were performed to interpret the specific recognition ability and the binding process of MIPs. The results showed that, compared with other reports, MIPs synthetized in this study showed high adsorption capacity besides specific recognition ability. The adsorption capacity of MIPs was 0.063 mmol/g at 1 mmol/L ractopamine concentration with the distribution coefficient 1.70. The resulting MIPs could be used as solid-phase extraction materials for separation and enrichment of trace ractopamine in biological samples.

Recent advances in molecular imprinting technology: current status, challenges and highlighted applications

Molecular imprinting technology (MIT) concerns formation of selective sites in a polymer matrix with the memory of a template. Recently, molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) have aroused extensive attention and been widely applied in many fields, such as solid-phase extraction, chemical sensors and artificial antibodies owing to their desired selectivity, physical robustness, thermal stability, as well as low cost and easy preparation. With the rapid development of MIT as a research hotspot, it faces a number of challenges, involving biological macromolecule imprinting, heterogeneous binding sites, template leakage, incompatibility with aqueous media, low binding capacity and slow mass transfer, which restricts its applications in various aspects. This critical review briefly reviews the current status of MIT, particular emphasis on significant progresses of novel imprinting methods, some challenges and effective strategies for MIT, and highlighted applications of MIPs. Finally, some significant attempts in further developing MIT are also proposed (236 references).

Preparation of a molecularly imprinted polymer using TMB as a dummy template and its application as SPE sorbent for determination of six PBBs in and fish samples

A novel molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) based on a silica-gel surface for the separation and concentration of polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) was prepared using 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) as a dummy template by a surface molecular imprinting technique in combination with a sol-gel process. The results obtained from a series of adsorption experiments proved that the prepared sorbent had a good adsorption capacity and a fast mass transfer rate to TMB. Meanwhile, a method was developed for the determination of six PBBs using TMB-MIP as a solid-phase extraction (SPE) enrichment sorbent coupled to GC-ECD. Under the optimum experimental conditions, the linear range of the calibration curve was 0.01-5.0 μg L-1 (r2 > 0.99), and LODs for each analyte were between 2.0 ng L-1 and 8.0 ng L-1. Relative standard deviations (RSD) for nine replicate detections of 1.0 μg L-1 of each analyte ranged from 4.30% to 7.89%. The proposed method was applied to the determination of six PBBs in spiked water and fish samples with recoveries ranging from 61.48% to 114.06%.