Synthesis and application of molecularly imprinted polymer on selective solid-phase extraction for the determination of monosulfuron residue in soil

Preparation of molecularly imprinted polymer with class-specific recognition for determination of 29 sulfonylurea herbicides in agro-products

Molecularly imprinting polymers with high selectivity toward 29 sulfonylurea herbicides were synthesized by precipitation polymerization, using metsulfuron-methyl and chlorsulfuron as the template molecule, 4-vinylpyridine as the function monomer, divinylbenzene as the crosslinking agent, and acetonitrile as porogen. The imprinted polymers were characterized and measured by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and equilibrium adsorption experiments. The molecularly imprinted polymers displayed specific recognition for the tested 29 sulfonylurea herbicides, and the maximum apparent binding capacity was found to be 18.81 mg/g. The synthesized polymer was used as a solid-phase extraction (SPE) column coupled with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for determination of the tested analytes in agro-products. Within the range of 2-100 μg/L, the tested analytes have achieved a good linear association with correlation coefficient (R²) > 0.999. The calculated limits of detection (LODs, S/N=3) as along with limits of quantification (LOQs, S/N=10) were in the ranges of 0.005-0.07 μg/L and 0.018-0.23 μg/L, respectively. Under different spiking levels, the recovery rates were ranged from 74.8% - 110.5%, and the relative standard deviation (RSDs) were < 5.3%. Finally, the feasibility of the proposed methodology was successfully applied for detection of sulfonylurea herbicides in crops, vegetables, and oils samples.

Optimising factors affecting solid phase extraction performances of molecular imprinted polymer as recent sample preparation technique

Molecular imprinted solid-phase extraction is the technique that uses molecular imprinted polymer as the sorbent in solid phase extraction. Molecular imprinted solid-phase extraction is effective and efficient for the extraction process and cleaning as compared with solid phase extraction (SPE) without molecular imprinted polymer. The complexity of variables in molecular imprinted solid-phase extraction arise as problems in the analysis, therefore it is necessary to optimize the extraction conditions of molecular imprinted solid-phase extraction. To achieve the sorption equilibrium and achieve the shortest time, certain parameters such as contact time, ion strength of sample, pH of sample, amount of sorbent, sample flow rate, addition of salt and buffer solution, washing solvent, elution solvent, and loading solvent need to be optimized. The selection of suitable properties and quantities of each factor greatly affect the formation of appropriate interactions between the sorbent and analytes. Percentage recovery is also influenced by formation of the appropriate bonds, sample flow rates, extraction time, salt addition, and sorbent mass. Therefore, in the future, molecular imprinted solid-phase extraction optimization has to consider and adjust various factors reviewed in this paper to form appropriate interactions between the absorbent and target molecules which have an impact on the optimal results.

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.

Study of the molecularly imprinted polymers for selective binding of the mono-substituted sulfonylurea herbicides

A new molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) was synthesized for the selective extraction of mono-substituted sulfonylurea herbicides, with monosulfuron as the template and acrylamide as the functional monomer. The recognition property and affinity of the MIP for monosulfuron and its analog, monosulfuron-ester, were evaluated by equilibrium adsorption and a chromatographic study. Computer modeling, including simulated annealing and semi-empirical quantum calculation, was employed to study the recognition mechanism. The computer modeling demonstrated that monosulfuron can form multiple hydrogen bonds with methacrylic acid and acrylamide, whereas monosulfuron-ester cannot form a stable complex with these two functional monomers, which aligns with the results of the rebinding experiment. The selectivity study further demonstrated that binding sites in the MIP interact with the hydrogen in the acylamino group of mono-substituted sulfonylurea. A comparison experiment also showed that monosulfuron-imprinted MIP offers better selectivity for monosulfuron-ester than the commercial C18 high-performance liquid chromatography stationary phase material.

Preparation and utilization of molecularly imprinted polymer for chlorsulfuron extraction from water, soil, and wheat plant

A molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) was prepared using chlorsulfuron (CS), a herbicide as a template molecule, methacrylic acid as a functional monomer, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EDMA) as a cross-linker, methanol and toluene as a porogen, and 2,2-azobisisobutyronitrile as an initiator. The binding behaviors of the template chlorsulfuron and its analog on MIP were evaluated by equilibrium adsorption experiments, which showed that the MIP particles had specific affinity for the template CS. Solid-phase extraction (SPE) with the chlorsulfuron molecularly imprinted polymer as an adsorbent was investigated. The optimum loading, washing, and eluting conditions for chlorsulfuron molecularly imprinted polymer solid-phase extraction (CS-MISPE) were established. The optimized CS-MISPE procedure was developed to enrich and clean up the chlorsulfuron residue in water, soils, and wheat plants. Concentrations of chlorsulfuron in the samples were analyzed by HPLC-UVD. The average recoveries of CS spiked standard at 0.05~0.2 mg L(-1) in water were 90.2~93.3%, with the relative standard deviation (RSD) being 2.0~3.9% (n=3). The average recoveries of 1.0 mL CS spiked standard at 0.1~0.5 mg L(-1) in 10 g soil were 91.1~94.7%, with the RSD being 3.1~5.6% (n=3). The average recoveries of 1.0 mL CS spiked standard at 0.1~0.5 mg L(-1) in 5 g wheat plant were 82.3~94.3%, with the RSD being 2.9~6.8% (n=3). Overall, our study provides a sensitive and cost-effective method for accurate determination of CS residues in water, soils, and plants.

Development of a solid-phase extraction-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the determination of 17beta-19-nortestosterone levels in antifatigue functional foods

17beta-19-nortestosterone (17beta-NT) has been illegally used in antifatigue functional foods to promote muscle growth and improve endurance. A rapid and sensitive solid-phase extraction-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (SPE-ELISA) method was developed and successfully applied to analyze the levels of 17beta-NT in antifatigue functional foods. A polyclonal antibody against 17beta-NT was produced from rabbits immunized with the 17beta-NT-BSA conjugate, and a competitive direct enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was developed for the rapid detection of 17beta-NT. The concentration causing 50% inhibition (IC(50)) and the limit of detection (LOD) were found to be 0.08 and 0.0055 ng/mL, respectively; this was better than methods previously reported that had a LOD of 2.4 ng/mL. C(18) cartridges were investigated for use in removing the effects of matrix in foods, and the sample purification protocol was optimized. Using the developed SPE-ELISA method, recoveries of functional food samples were obtained in the range of 71% to 91.5%. Moreover, 2 kinds of antifatigue functional foods were analyzed using the established ELISA and HPLC methods. The correlation coefficient of the results obtained using the 2 methods was greater than 0.98. Thus, the preliminary evaluation of the SPE-ELISA method proved that it is a specific, sensitive, and precise tool that can be used for the practical detection of 17beta-NT in various antifatigue functional food samples.

Small organic molecular imprinted materials: their preparation and application

Molecular imprinting is a technique for preparing polymeric materials that are capable of recognizing and binding the desired molecular target with a high affinity and selectivity. The materials can be applied to a wide range of target molecules, even those for which no natural binder exists or whose antibodies are difficult to raise. The imprinting of small organic molecules (e.g., pharmaceuticals, pesticides, amino acids, steroids, and sugars) is now almost routine. In this review, we pay special attention to the synthesis and application of molecular imprinted polymer (MIPs) imprinted with small organic molecules, including herbicides, pesticides, and drugs. The advantages, applications, and recent developments in small organic molecular imprinted technology are highlighted.

Selective sample treatment using molecularly imprinted polymers

The molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are synthetic polymers possessing specific cavities designed for a target molecule. By a mechanism of molecular recognition, the MIPs are used as selective sorbents for the solid-phase extraction of target analytes from complex matrices. MIPs are often called synthetic antibodies in comparison with immuno-based sorbents; they offer some advantages including easy, cheap and rapid preparation and high thermal and chemical stability. This review describes the use of MIPs in solid-phase extraction with emphasis on their synthesis, the various parameters affecting the selectivity of the extraction, their potential to selectively extract analytes from complex aqueous samples or organic extracts, their on-line coupling with LC and their potential in miniaturized devices.

Application of molecularly imprinted polymers to solid-phase extraction of analytes from real samples

A review is presented of recent developments in the use of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) as selective materials for solid-phase extraction. Compared with traditional sorbents, MIPs can not only concentrate but also selectively separate the target analytes from real samples, which is crucial for the quantitatively determination of analytes in complex samples. Consequently, as one of the most effective sorbents, MIPs have been successfully applied to the pretreatment of analytes in foods, drugs, and biological and environmental samples in the past five years.

A new molecularly imprinted polymer for selective extraction of cotinine from urine samples by solid-phase extraction

Cotinine, the main metabolite of nicotine in human body, is widely used as a biomarker for assessment of direct or passive exposure to tobacco smoke. A method for molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction (MISPE) of cotinine from human urine has been investigated. The molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) with good selectivity and affinity for cotinine was synthesized using cotinine as the template molecule, methacrylic acid as the functional monomer, and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as the cross-linker. The imprinted polymer was evaluated for use as a SPE sorbent, in tests with aqueous standards, by comparing recovery data obtained using the imprinted form of the polymer and a non-imprinted form (NIP). Extraction from the aqueous solutions resulted in more than 80% recovery. A range of linearity for cotinine between 0.05 and 5 microg mL-1 was obtained by loading 1 mL blank urine samples spiked with cotinine at different concentrations in acetate buffer of pH 9.0, and by using double basic washing and acidic elution. The intra-day coefficient of variation (CV) was below 7% and inter-day CV was below 10%. This investigation has provided a reliable MISPE-HPLC method for determination of cotinine in human urine from both active smokers and passive smokers.