The use of coenzyme Q0 as a template in the development of a molecularly imprinted polymer for the selective recognition of coenzyme Q10

Novel approach over template molecule elimination in molecularly imprinted polymers by using heat activated persulfate

This study proposes a new alternative for template removal from molecularly imprinted polymers by heat activated persulfate. It is known that trace amounts of template molecule remains in the polymer network after extraction by current methodologies leading to bleeding and incomplete removal of template which could compromise final determination of target analytes especially in trace analysis. A previously developed molecularly imprinted polymer specially designed for Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) extraction was employed as a model to test this template elimination approach. This polymer is based on methacrylic acid and ethylene glycol dimethylacrylate as monomers and Coenzyme Q0 as template. This coenzyme has the same quinone group as the CoQ10. Selectivity was analyzed comparing the recovery of CoQ10 and ubichromenol, a CoQ10 related substance. Chemical degradation using heat-activated persulfate allows the elimination of the template molecule with a high level of efficiency, being a simple and ecological methodology, yielding a polymer that exhibits comparable selectivity and imprinting effect with respect to traditional extraction methods.

Recent molecularly imprinted polymers applications in bioanalysis

Molecular imprinted polymers (MIPs) as extraordinary compounds with unique features have presented a wide range of applications and benefits to researchers. In particular when used as a sorbent in sample preparation methods for the analysis of biological samples and complex matrices. Its application in the extraction of medicinal species has attracted much attention and a growing interest. This review focus on articles and research that deals with the application of MIPs in the analysis of components such as biomarkers, drugs, hormones, blockers and inhibitors, especially in biological matrices. The studies based on MIP applications in bioanalysis and the deployment of MIPs in high-throughput settings and optimization of extraction methods are presented. A review of more than 200 articles and research works clearly shows that the superiority of MIP techniques lies in high accuracy, reproducibility, sensitivity, speed and cost effectiveness which make them suitable for clinical usage. Furthermore, this review present MIP-based extraction techniques and MIP-biosensors which are categorized on their classes based on common properties of target components. Extraction methods, studied sample matrices, target analytes, analytical techniques and their results for each study are described. Investigations indicate satisfactory results using MIP-based bioanalysis. According to the increasing number of studies on method development over the last decade, the use of MIPs in bioanalysis is growing and will further expand the scope of MIP applications for less studied samples and analytes.

A Simple and Accurate Method for the Determination of Related Substances in Coenzyme Q10 Soft Capsules

As a new dosage form, coenzyme Q10 (Co-Q10) soft capsules are easily absorbed and utilized by the human body. Co-Q10 soft capsules can effectively improve the bioavailability and reduce medical costs for patients. A main concern about Co-Q10 as an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) is how to control the total quantity of related substances. In this article, according to the degradation pattern of the API, the most easily degradable impurity (impurity X) in the sample was prepared and its chemical structure was determined. Furthermore, a simple and accurate method was developed for the determination of related substances and to avert the interference of excipient ingredients in Co-Q10 soft capsules. The approach was validated adequately and the primary impurity X was confirmed accurately. The limit of total quantity of related substances (less than 1%) could be revised to the level of specific impurity X being no more than 0.5%, in this effective quality control method of Co-Q10 soft capsules. The revised level is suggested to be included in the corresponding standard of the supplement taken from the Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China (2015 edition). This can provide a feasible method for the relevant enterprises and regulatory authorities to control the related substances of coenzyme Q10 soft capsules.

Chemiluminescence determination of furazolidone in poultry tissues and water samples after selective solid phase microextraction using magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers

For the first time, a selective extraction method combined with chemiluminescence was developed for the determination of FZD in various samples.

Development of hydrophilic magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers by directly coating onto Fe3O4 with a water-miscible functional monomer and application in a solid-phase extraction procedure for iridoid glycosides

Development of hydrophilic magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers by directly coating onto Fe₃O₄ with a water-miscible functional monomer and application in a solid-phase extraction procedure for iridoid glycosides.

Water-compatible molecularly imprinted polymers for selective solid phase extraction of dencichine from the aqueous extract of Panax notoginseng

Specific molecularly imprinted polymers for dencichine were developed for the first time in this study by the bulk polymerization using phenylpyruvic acid and dl-tyrosine as multi-templates. The photographs confirmed that molecularly imprinted polymers prepared using N,N'-methylene diacrylamide as cross-linker and glycol dimethyl ether as porogen displayed excellent hydrophilicity. Selectivity, adsorption isotherm and adsorption kinetics were investigated. The sample loading-washing-eluting solvent was optimized to evaluate the property of molecularly imprinted solid phase extract. Compared with LC/WCX-SPE, water-compatible molecularly imprinted solid phase extraction displayed more excellent specific adsorption performance. The extracted dencichine from Panax notoginseng with the purity of 98.5% and the average recovery of 85.6% (n=3) was obtained.

Molecularly imprinted polymeric micro- and nano-particles for the targeted delivery of active molecules

Molecular imprinting (MI) represents a strategy to introduce a 'molecular memory' in a polymeric system obtaining materials with specific recognition properties. MI particles can be used as drug delivery systems providing a targeted release and thus reducing the side effects. The introduction of molecular recognition properties on a polymeric drug carrier represents a challenge in the development of targeted delivery systems to increase their efficiency. This review will summarize the limited number of drug delivery MI particles described in the literature along with an overview of potential solutions for a larger exploitation of MI particles as targeted drug delivery carriers. Molecularly imprinted drug carriers can be considered interesting candidates to significantly improve the efficiency of a controlled drug treatment.

Array formatting of the heat-transfer method (HTM) for the detection of small organic molecules by molecularly imprinted polymers

In this work we present the first steps towards a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP)-based biomimetic sensor array for the detection of small organic molecules via the heat-transfer method (HTM). HTM relies on the change in thermal resistance upon binding of the target molecule to the MIP-type receptor. A flow-through sensor cell was developed, which is segmented into four quadrants with a volume of 2.5 μL each, allowing four measurements to be done simultaneously on a single substrate. Verification measurements were conducted, in which all quadrants received a uniform treatment and all four channels exhibited a similar response. Subsequently, measurements were performed in quadrants, which were functionalized with different MIP particles. Each of these quadrants was exposed to the same buffer solution, spiked with different molecules, according to the MIP under analysis. With the flow cell design we could discriminate between similar small organic molecules and observed no significant cross-selectivity. Therefore, the MIP array sensor platform with HTM as a readout technique, has the potential to become a low-cost analysis tool for bioanalytical applications.