Thermo-responsive molecularly imprinted polymer containing magnetic nanoparticles: Synthesis, characterization and adsorption properties for curcumin

β-cyclodextrin polymer composites for the removal of pharmaceutical substances, endocrine disruptor chemicals, and dyes from aqueous solution- A review of recent trends

Cyclodextrin (CD) and its derivatives are receiving attention as a new-generation adsorbent for water pollution treatment due to their external hydrophilic and internal hydrophobic properties. Among types of CD, β-Cyclodextrin (βCD) has been a material of choice with a proven track record for a range of utilities in distinct domains, owing to its unique cage-like structural conformations and inclusion complex-forming ability, especially to mitigate emerging contaminants (ECs). This article outlines βCD composites in developing approaches of their melds and composites for purposes such as membranes for removal of the ECs in aqueous setups have been explored with emphasis on recent trends. Electrospinning has bestowed an entirely different viewpoint on polymeric materials, comprising βCD, in the framework of diverse functions across a multitude of niches. Besides, this article especially discusses βCD polymer composite membrane-based removal of contaminants such as pharmaceutical substances, endocrine disruptors chemicals, and dyes. Finally, in this article, the challenges and future directions of βCD-based adsorbents are discussed, which may shed light on pragmatic commercial applications of βCD polymer composite membranes.

Electrochemical Analysis of Curcumin in Real Samples Using Intelligent Materials

Curcumin is a compound of great importance in the food industry due to its biological and pharmacological properties, which include being an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, and anticarcinogenic. This paper proposes the synthesis of an electrochemical sensor based on molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) and MWCNT by drop casting deposited on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) for the selective quantification of curcumin in food samples. The synthesized compounds are characterized by Fourier transform infrared (IR), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), and electrochemical techniques such as cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The optimal conditions for further experiments were determined by selecting these parameters. We examined three food products, commercial capsules, turmeric rhizomes, and commercial turmeric powder, employing both electrochemical and HPLC methods for the analysis. The electrochemical method revealed a limit of detection (LOD) value of 0.1365 µmol L-1, compared with the HPLC analysis, which gave a value of 3.55 µmol L-1. Furthermore, the MIP material demonstrated superior selectivity for the analyte compared to potential interferents. The recovery percentage, determined using the HPLC method, fell within the range of 87.5% to 102.6.

Fabrication of Low-Temperature Fast Gelation β-Cyclodextrin-Based Hydrogel-Loaded Medicine for Wound Dressings

β-Cyclodextrin (β-CD) is often used as a drug carrier for biomedical materials due to its unique cavity structure. Herein, β-CD was modified by acryloyl chloride and further copolymerized with N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) and acrylic acid (AA) to obtain PNIPAM-co-β-CD-AC. The results showed that the critical phase transition temperature of PNIPAM/β-CD-AC could be controlled at 19 °C, and the fast sol-gel phase transition was realized in 2-10 s. The hydrophobic drug carried in this hydrogel can constantly be released for more than 6 days at pH values (pH 5.5-8), and the duration may match the recovery of the wound. As a dressing hydrogel, its rapid gel formation and inversion as well as shear-thinning behavior prevent secondary wound damage. The β-CD-based hydrogel also has good biocompatibility and antioxidant properties, which provide a good potential choice for wound dressings, especially for exposed wounds in winter.

Curcumin and curcumin nanoparticles counteract the biological and managemental stressors in poultry production: An updated review

Antibiotics have the potential to have both direct and indirect detrimental impacts on animal and human health. For instance, antibiotic residues and pathogenic resistance against the drug are very common in poultry because of antibiotics used in their feed. It is necessary to use natural feed additives as effective alternatives instead of synthetic antibiotics. Curcumin, a polyphenol compound one of the natural compounds from the rhizomes of turmeric (Curcuma spp.) and has been suggested to have several therapeutic benefits in the treatment of human diseases. Curcumin exhibited some positive responses such as growth promoter, antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, anticoccidial, anti-stress, and immune modulator activities. Curcumin played a pivotal role in regulating the structure of the intestinal microbiome for health promotion and the treatment of intestinal dysbiosis. It is suggested that curcumin alone or a combination with other feed additives could be a dietary strategy to improve poultry health and productivity.

Conjugation of folic acid with poly (NVCL-co-PEGMA)-grafted chitosan as a new doxorubicin delivery system

This paper aimed to investigate the synthesis of a novel drug delivery system (DDS) to target tumors and implement the controlled release of doxorubicin (DOX). Chitosan was modified with 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane and subjected to graft polymerization to implement grafting with the biocompatible thermosensitive copolymer of poly (NVCL-co-PEGMA). A folate receptor-targeting agent was obtained by attaching folic acid. The DDS loading capacity for DOX via physisorption was obtained to be 846.45 mg/g. The synthesized DDS showed temperature- and pH-sensitive drug release behavior in vitro. A temperature of 37 °C and a pH of 7.4 hindered the DOX release, whereas a temperature of 40 °C and a pH of 5.5 led to DOX release acceleration. In addition, the release of DOX was found to occur in a Fickian diffusion mechanism. The MTT assay tests indicated that the synthesized DDS was not detectably toxic to cell lines of breast cancer, while the toxicity of the DOX-loaded DDS was found to be substantial. The cell absorption enhancement of folic acid led to higher cytotoxicity of the DOX-loaded DDS than bare DOX. As a result, the proposed DDS could be a promising alternative for the targeted therapy of breast cancer through controlled drug release.

A Review of Cyclodextrin Encapsulation and Intelligent Response for the Release of Curcumin

To overcome the low water solubility and low bioavailability of curcumin (CUR), multiple delivery strategies have been proposed. Among these, cyclodextrin-based carriers have been widely used for the encapsulation and delivery of CUR. Cyclodextrins (CDs), as natural oligosaccharides, have been well known for their biodegradability, biocompatibility, non-toxicity, and internal hydrophobic and external hydrophilic structural features. This paper summarizes the recently reported CD-based carriers for encapsulating CUR. Particularly, the polymerization properties of CD self-assembly to enhance the encapsulation of CUR are discussed. In addition, the current progress on stimuli-responsive CD carriers for controlled release of CUR is described, which laid an important foundation for the development of CUR-based precision therapy in clinical practice. In conclusion, this review may provide ideas for the future development of a CD-based encapsulant for CUR.

Effects of the Structure of Benzenesulfonate-Based Draw Solutes on the Forward Osmosis Process

A series of phosphonium-based ionic liquids (ILs) based on benzenesulfonate derivatives (tetrabutylphosphonium benzenesulfonate ([TBP][BS]), tetrabutylphosphonium 4-methylbenzenesulfonate ([TBP][MBS]), tetrabutylphosphonium 2,4-dimethylbenzenesulfonate ([TBP][DMBS]), and tetrabutylphosphonium 2,4,6-trimethylbenzenesulfonate ([TBP][TMBS])) were synthesized via anion exchange with tetrabutylphosphonium bromide ([TBP][Br]). Then, we characterized the ILs and investigated their suitability as draw solutes for forward osmosis (FO), focusing on their thermoresponsive properties, conductivities, and osmotic pressures. We found that aqueous [TBP][BS] was not thermoresponsive, but 20 wt% aqueous [TBP][MBS], [TBP][DMBS], and [TBP][TMBS] had lower critical solution temperatures (LCSTs) of approximately 41, 25, and 21 °C, respectively, enabling their easy recovery using waste heat. Based on these findings, 20 wt% aqueous [TBP][DMBS] was tested for its FO performance, and the water and reverse solute fluxes were found to be approximately 9.29 LMH and 1.37 gMH, respectively, in the active layer facing the draw solution (AL-DS) mode and 4.64 LMH and 0.37 gMH, respectively, in the active layer facing the feed solution (AL-FS) mode. Thus, these tetrabutylphosphonium benzenesulfonate-based LCST-type ILs are suitable for drawing solutes for FO process.

Biodegradable Magnetic Molecularly Imprinted Anticancer Drug Carrier for the Targeted Delivery of Docetaxel

Molecularly imprinted biodegradable polymers are receiving considerable attention in drug delivery due to their ability of targeted recognition and biocompatibility. This study reports the synthesis of a novel fluorescence-active magnetic molecularly imprinted drug carrier (MIDC) using a glucose-based biodegradable cross-linking agent for the delivery of anticancer drug docetaxel. The magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer (MMIP) was characterized through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction spectroscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM). The MMIP presented a magnetization value of 0.0059 emu g^-1 and binding capacity of 72 mg g^-1 with docetaxel. In vitro and in vivo studies were performed to observe the effectiveness of the MIDC for drug delivery. The cell viability assay suggested that the MMIP did not present toxic effects on healthy cells. The magnetic property of the MMIP allowed quick identification of the drug carrier at the target site by applying the external magnetic field to mice (after 20 min of loading) and taking X-ray images. The novel MMIP-based drug carrier could thus deliver the drug at the target site without affecting the healthy cells.

Nano-molecularly imprinted polymers (nanoMIPs) as a novel approach to targeted drug delivery in nanomedicine

Molecularly imprinted polymers - MIPs - denote synthetic polymeric structures that selectively recognize the molecule of interest against which MIPs are templated. A number of works have demonstrated that MIPs can exceed the affinity and selectivity of natural antibodies, yet operating by the same principle of "lock and key". In contrast to antibodies, which have certain limitations related to the minimal size of the antigen, nanoMIPs can be fabricated against almost any target molecule irrespective of its size and low immunogenicity. Furthermore, the cost of MIP production is much lower compared to the cost of antibody production. Excitingly, MIPs can be used as nanocontainers for specific delivery of therapeutics both in vitro and in vivo. The adoption of the solid phase synthesis rendered MIPs precise reproducible characteristics and, as a consequence, improved the controlled release of therapeutic payloads. These major breakthroughs paved the way for applicability of MIPs in medicine as a novel class of therapeutics. In this review, we highlight recent advances in the fabrication of MIPs, mechanisms of controlled release from the MIPs, and their applicability in biomedical research.

A review on remediation technologies using functionalized Cyclodextrin

Modern lifestyle and alleviated anthropogenic activities have increased the pollutant load, ultimately causing stress on the environment. In industrialization, many harmful compounds are released into the environment polluting air, water, and soil, triggering adverse impacts on the ecosystem and human beings. Therefore, the development of advanced remediation technologies turns out as a significant environmental priority. Less polar cyclic oligosaccharide Cyclodextrin (CD) with cavity binding organic compounds attracted attention by helping effectively as environmental application. The formation of inclusion complexes and modified Cyclodextrin by cross-linking or surface modification enhances their capacity to abate pollutant effectively from the environment. Modification results in the formation of several novel materials such as CD-based composites, nanocomposites, crosslinked polymer or hydrogels, potent cross-linkers, CD-based membranes, and CD immobilized supports. Several environmental remediation technologies based on Cyclodextrin and modified Cyclodextrin have been discussed in detail in this review. Various environmental applications of Cyclodextrin and its derivatives have been discussed, along with their formation, properties, and characterization. Effective removal of organic pollutants, inorganic pollutants, micropollutants, volatile compounds etc., has been explained using several remediation technologies. Based on CD innocuity, this is referred to as the green process. The reversible equilibrium corresponded by the inclusion phenomenon sets a significant trend in the field of CD environmental application to develop techniques by incorporating supramolecular chemistry as well as irreversible methods such as biodegradation and advanced oxidation. It helps in the complete removal of pollutants and ultimately recycling the CD.

A review of controlled release from cyclodextrins: release methods, release systems and application

The controlled release of guest molecules from cyclodextrin (CD) inclusion complexes is very important for specific industrial applications in foods, medicine, cosmetics, textiles, agriculture, environmental protection, and chemical materials. The term "controlled release" encompasses several related methods, including those referred to as immediate release, sustained release and targeted release. Many different CD-based controlled release systems are currently used in practical applications. CD inclusion complexes, CD coupling, supramolecular hydrogels, and supramolecular micelles are among the most common. This review systematically introduces the principles and applications of CD-based controlled release systems, providing a theoretical basis for improving the bioavailability of effective substances and broadening their range of application.

Magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers for extraction of S-phenylmercapturic acid from urine samples followed by high-performance liquid chromatography

In this study, magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers (MMIPs) were prepared and used as sorbents for extraction of S-phenylmercapturic acid (S-PMA) from urine samples, followed by high-performance liquid chromatography ultraviolet-visible (HPLC-UV/Vis) analysis. The MMIPs were synthesized by the copolymerization reaction of (phenylthio) acetic acid (template molecule), methacrylic acid (functional monomers) and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (cross-linkers). The morphology, structure property and surface groups of the prepared MMIPs were characterized by scan electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction pattern, thermogravimetric analyses, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller and vibrating sample magnetometer. The selectivity of the MMIPs was investigated in the presence of interferents. Various parameters affecting the S-PMA extraction efficiency were investigated, including MMIPs amount, pH, sample volume, desorption solvent, as well as extraction and desorption time. The obtained optimal parameters were as follows: MMIPs amount (20 mg), pH (3.0), sample volume (5 mL), desorption solvent (methanol/acetic acid [9/1, v/v]), extraction time (30 minutes) and desorption time (2 minutes). The method was validated according to the Food and Drug Administration Guidance for Industry on Bioanalytical Method Validation. The calibration curve for the analyte was linear in the concentration range of 0.030-1.0 mg/L (r = 0.9995). The LOD and LOQ of the method were 0.0080 and 0.0267 mg/L, respectively. The enrichment factor of the MMIPs was 5. The relative standard deviations of intra- and inter-day tests were in the range of 3.8-5.1% and 3.9-6.3%, respectively. The recoveries at three different concentrations of 0.10, 0.50 and 0.80 mg/L ranged between 95.2% and 98.6%. In addition, the MMIPs could be reused for at least eight times. The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of S-PMA in urine samples. In addition, this developed method could be used as a tool in the early screening and clinical diagnosis of benzene intoxication.

A review of stimuli-responsive polymeric micelles for tumor-targeted delivery of curcumin

Despite a potential drug with multiple pharmacological activities, curcumin has disadvantages of the poor water solubility, rapid metabolism, low bioavailability, which considerably limit its clinical application. Currently, polymeric micelles (PMs) have gained widespread concern due to their advantageous physical and chemical properties, easy preparation, and biocompatibility. They can be used to improve drug solubility, prolong blood circulation time, and allow passive targeted drug delivery to tumor through enhanced penetration and retention effect. Moreover, studies focused on tumor microenvironment offer alternatives to design stimulus-responsive smart PMs based on low pH, high levels of glutathione, altered enzyme expression, increased reactive oxygen species production, and hypoxia. There are various external stimuli, such as light, ultrasound, and temperature. These endogenous/exogenous stimuli can be used for the research of intelligent micelles. Intelligent PMs can effectively load curcumin with improved solubility, and intelligently respond to release the drug at a controlled rate at targeted sites such as tumors to avoid early release, which markedly improves the bioavailability of curcumin. The present review is aimed to discuss and summarize recent developments in research of curcumin-loaded intelligent PMs based on endogenous and exogenous stimuli, and facilitates the development of novel delivery systems for future research.

Advances in Molecularly Imprinted Polymers as Drug Delivery Systems

Despite the tremendous efforts made in the past decades, severe side/toxic effects and poor bioavailability still represent the main challenges that hinder the clinical translation of drug molecules. This has turned the attention of investigators towards drug delivery vehicles that provide a localized and controlled drug delivery. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) as novel and versatile drug delivery vehicles have been widely studied in recent years due to the advantages of selective recognition, enhanced drug loading, sustained release, and robustness in harsh conditions. This review highlights the design and development of strategies undertaken for MIPs used as drug delivery vehicles involving different drug delivery mechanisms, such as rate-programmed, stimuli-responsive and active targeting, published during the course of the past five years.

Recent Advances of Molecularly Imprinted Polymers Based on Cyclodextrin

Molecular imprinting polymers (MIPs), generally considered as artificial mimics that are comparable to natural receptor, are polymers with tailor-made specific recognition sites complementary to the template molecules in shape and size. As a class of supramolecular compounds, cyclodextrins (CDs) are flourishing in the field of molecular imprinting with their unique structural properties. This review presents recent advances in application of MIPs based on CDs during the past five years. The discussion is grouped according to the different role of CDs in MIPs, that is, functional monomer, carrier modifier, etc. Main focus is the application of CD-based MIP on sample preparation, detection, and sensing. Additionally, drug delivery with CD-based MIP is also briefly discussed. Finally, challenges and future prospects of application of CDs in MIP are elaborated.

Developments of Smart Drug-Delivery Systems Based on Magnetic Molecularly Imprinted Polymers for Targeted Cancer Therapy: A Short Review

Cancer therapy is still a huge challenge, as especially chemotherapy shows several drawbacks like low specificity to tumor cells, rapid elimination of drugs, high toxicity and lack of aqueous solubility. The combination of molecular imprinting technology with magnetic nanoparticles provides a new class of smart hybrids, i.e., magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers (MMIPs) to overcome limitations in current cancer therapy. The application of these complexes is gaining more interest in therapy, due to their favorable properties, namely, the ability to be guided and to generate slight hyperthermia with an appropriate external magnetic field, alongside the high selectivity and loading capacity of imprinted polymers toward a template molecule. In cancer therapy, using the MMIPs as smart-drug-delivery robots can be a promising alternative to conventional direct administered chemotherapy, aiming to enhance drug accumulation/penetration into the tumors while fewer side effects on the other organs. Overview: In this review, we state the necessity of further studies to translate the anticancer drug-delivery systems into clinical applications with high efficiency. This work relates to the latest state of MMIPs as smart-drug-delivery systems aiming to be used in chemotherapy. The application of computational modeling toward selecting the optimum imprinting interaction partners is stated. The preparation methods employed in these works are summarized and their attainment in drug-loading capacity, release behavior and cytotoxicity toward cancer cells in the manner of in vitro and in vivo studies are stated. As an essential issue toward the development of a body-friendly system, the biocompatibility and toxicity of the developed drug-delivery systems are discussed. We conclude with the promising perspectives in this emerging field. Areas covered: Last ten years of publications (till June 2020) in magnetic molecularly imprinted polymeric nanoparticles for application as smart-drug-delivery systems in chemotherapy.

Biosensors and Sensing Systems for Rapid Analysis of Phenolic Compounds from Plants: A Comprehensive Review

Phenolic compounds are secondary metabolites frequently found in plants that exhibit many different effects on human health. Because of the relevant bioactivity, their identification and quantification in agro-food matrices as well as in biological samples are a fundamental issue in the field of quality control of food and food supplements, and clinical analysis. In this review, a critical selection of sensors and biosensors for rapid and selective detection of phenolic compounds is discussed. Sensors based on electrochemistry, photoelectrochemistry, fluorescence, and colorimetry are discussed including devices with or without specific recognition elements, such as biomolecules, enzymes and molecularly imprinted materials. Systems that have been tested on real matrices are prevalently considered but also techniques that show potential development in the field.

A Smart Strategy to Improve t-Resveratrol Production in Grapevine Cells Treated with Cyclodextrin Polymers Coated with Magnetic Nanoparticles

One of the most successfully procedures used to increase the production of t-resveratrol in Vitis vinifera suspension-cultured cells is the application of cyclodextrins (CDs) and methyl jasmonate (MJ) as elicitors. In particular, β-CDs are characterized by their chemical structure which makes them special, not only by acting as elicitors, but also because they are compounds capable of trapping high added-value hydrophobic molecules such as t-resveratrol. However, the use of β-CDs as elicitors increases the production costs of this compound, making their industrial exploitation economically unfeasible. Therefore, the development of β-CDs recovery strategies is necessary to provide a viable solution to their industrial use. In this work, carboxymethylated and hydroxypropylated β-CDs have been used to form polymers using epichlorohydrin (EPI) as a cross-linking agent. The polymers were coated to Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles and were jointly used with MJ to elicit V. vinifera suspension-cultured cells. Once elicitation experiments were finished, a magnet easily allowed the recovery of polymers, and t-resveratrol was extracted from them by using ethyl acetate. The results indicated that the production of t-resveratrol in the presence of free carboxymethyl-β-CDs was much lower than that found in the presence of carboxymethyl-β-cyclodextrins-EPI polymer coated magnetic nanoparticles. In addition, the maximal levels of t-resveratrol were found at 168 h of elicitation in the presence of 15 g/L hydroxypropyl-β-CDs polymer coated magnetic nanoparticles and MJ, and non-t-resveratrol was found in the extracellular medium, indicating that all the t-resveratrol produced by the cells and secreted into the culture medium was trapped by the polymer and extracted from it. This work also showed that polymers can be regenerated and reused during three cycles of continuous elicitation since the induction and adsorption capacity of hydroxypropyl-β-CDs polymer-coated magnetic nanoparticles after these cycles of elicitation remained high, allowing high concentrations of t-resveratrol to be obtained.

Selective recognition and enrichment of sterigmatocystin in wheat by thermo-responsive imprinted polymer based on magnetic halloysite nanotubes

Two thermo-responsive molecularly imprinted polymers (MHNTs@MIP and MCNTs@MIP) for the selective extraction of sterigmatocystin have been prepared on the surface of the magnetic halloysite nanotubes (MHNTs) and magnetic carbon nanotubes (MCNTs), respectively. 1, 8-dihydroxyanthraquinone, n-isopropyl acrylamide, methacrylic acid, ethylene dimethacrylate and dimethyl sulfoxide were used as the dummy template, thermo-sensitive functional monomer, co-monomer, cross-linker and porogen, respectively. The magnetic properties, adsorption properties as well as the temperature responsive behaviors of MHNTs@MIP and MCNTs@MIP were systematically studied and compared for the first time. Enough saturation magnetizations of MHNTs@MIP (9.42 emu/g) and MCNTs@MIP (10.54 emu/g) were obtained. MHNTs@MIP and MCNTs@MIP also showed controllable adsorption and release behaviors to sterigmatocystin in response to the temperature change (35 °C and 20 °C). Compared with MCNTs@MIP, MHNTs@MIP had higher adsorption affinity (K_L = 0.120 L/mg), higher adsorption kinetic (K₂ = 0.0100 g/(mg•min)) and higher imprinting factor (5.22) to sterigmatocystin. These results indicated that MHNTs@MIP was favorable adsorbent for the selective separation of sterigmatocystin. Furthermore, the elution conditions of MHNTs@MIP were optimized by response surface methodology. Under the optimal conditions, MHNTs@MIP coupled with high performance liquid chromatography were successfully applied to the selective recognition, purification, enrichment and detection of sterigmatocystin in wheat samples. The recoveries were calculated from 88.62% to 102.9% with RSDs less than 3.5 % and limit of detection of 1.1 μg/kg. This work provided a suitable carrier for the preparation of imprinted polymers and a practical approach for highly selective recognition and determination of analytes in real samples.

Novel cyclodextrin-based adsorbents for removing pollutants from wastewater: A critical review

Over the past few decades, cyclodextrin-based adsorbents have drawn worldwide attention as new-generation adsorbents for wastewater treatment due to its extraordinary physicochemical properties. This review outlined the recent development in the synthesis of cyclodextrin-based adsorbents as well as highlighted their applications in the removal of heavy metals, dyes, endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), and mixed pollutants from water. The cross-linked and immobilized cyclodextrin-based adsorbents exhibited excellent adsorption performances. The removal of dyes and heavy metals were effectively controlled by ion exchanging, mainly depending upon the pH; while the adsorptions of EDCs always occurred in cyclodextrin cavities and pH-independent. An easier separation process between aqueous and adsorbents could be achieved compared to native cyclodextrin, which promoted the application of cyclodextrin-based adsorbents in practical industry. This review could provide an inspiration for the advanced study in the development of cyclodextrin-based adsorbents for high efficiency wastewater treatment.

Surface-initiated polymerization for the preparation of magnetic polymer composites

A surface-initiated polymerization method is shown for the preparation of magnetic polymer composites with the good encapsulation of magnetic materials.

Perspectives of Molecularly Imprinted Polymer-Based Drug Delivery Systems in Cancer Therapy

Despite the considerable effort made in the past decades, multiple aspects of cancer management remain a challenge for the scientific community. The severe toxicity and poor bioavailability of conventional chemotherapeutics, and the multidrug resistance have turned the attention of researchers towards the quest of drug carriers engineered to offer an efficient, localized, temporized, and doze-controlled delivery of antitumor agents of proven clinical value. Molecular imprinting of chemotherapeutics is very appealing in the design of drug delivery systems since the specific and selective binding sites created within the polymeric matrix turn these complex structures into value-added carriers with tunable features, notably high loading capacity, and a good control of payload release. Our work aims to summarize the present state-of-the art of molecularly imprinted polymer-based drug delivery systems developed for anticancer therapy, with emphasis on the particularities of the chemotherapeutics’ release and with a critical assessment of the current challenges and future perspectives of these unique drug carriers.

Comments on "Novel molecularly imprinted polymer based on β-cyclodextrin@graphene oxide: Synthesis and application for selective diphenylamine determination"

This comment mainly deals with a mistake of applying pseudo-first-order kinetic model for testing the kinetic behaviors of adsorption.

Surface modification of graphene oxide with stimuli-responsive polymer brush containing β-cyclodextrin as a pendant group: Preparation, characterization, and evaluation as controlled drug delivery agent

In this work, stimuli-responsive graphene oxide/polymer brush nanocomposites (GPBNs) prepared through the polymerization of acrylic acid (AA), N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) and acrylated β-cyclodextrin (Ac-β-CD) from the graphene oxide (GO) surface. The attachment of polymers on the GO surface was approved using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-vis spectroscopy (UV-vis) and thermogravimetric (TGA) analysis. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to observe the morphological change on the GO surface after polymer grafting. Transition electron microscopy (TEM) showed that polymeric brushes were decorated on the GO surface. The growth of polymer brushes on the GO was further confirmed using atomic force microscopy (AFM). Both hydrophilic (doxorubicin, DOX) and hydrophobic (Methotrexate MTX) drugs were co-loaded in the prepared graphene Oxide/Polyacrylated β-cyclodextrin/polyacrylic acid/poly N-isopropylacrylamide brush nanocomposite (GCANBN). Drug releases from GCANBN were studied using UV-vis. MTT assay was used for the evaluation of in-vitro cytotoxicity of GCANBN. The prepared system showed its efficacy as a nanocarrier for both types of drugs.

Recent Progress of Imprinted Nanomaterials in Analytical Chemistry

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are a type of tailor-made materials that have ability to selectively recognize the target compound/s. MIPs have gained significant research interest in solid-phase extraction, catalysis, and sensor applications due to their unique properties such as low cost, robustness, and high selectivity. In addition, MIPs can be prepared as composite nanomaterials using nanoparticles, multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), nanorods, quantum dots (QDs), graphene, and clays. This review paper aims to demonstrate and highlight the recent progress of the applications of imprinted nanocomposite materials in analytical chemistry.

Preparation of Protein Molecular-Imprinted Polysiloxane Membrane Using Calcium Alginate Film as Matrix and Its Application for Cell Culture

Bovine serum albumin (BSA) molecular-imprinted polysiloxane (MIP) membrane was prepared by sol-gel technology, using silanes as the functional monomers, BSA as the template and CaAlg hydrogel film as the matrix. The stress-strain curves of wet CaAlg membrane and molecular-imprinted polysiloxane membrane were investigated. We evaluate the adsorption and recognition properties of MIP membrane. Results showed that the adsorption capacity of BSA-imprinted polysiloxane for BSA reached 28.83 mg/g, which was 2.18 times the non-imprinted polysiloxane (NIP) membrane. The adsorption rate was higher than that of the protein-imprinted hydrogel. BSA-imprinted polysiloxane membrane could identify the protein template from competitive proteins such as bovine hemoglobin, ovalbumin and bovine γ-globulin. In order to obtain the biomaterial that can promote cell adhesion and proliferation, fibronectin (FN)-imprinted polysiloxane (FN-MIP) membrane was obtained by using fibronectin as the template, silanes as functional monomers, and CaAlg hydrogel membrane as the substrate or matrix. The FN-MIP adsorbed more FN than NIP. The FN-imprinted polysiloxane membrane was applied to culture mouse fibroblast cells (L929) and the results proved that the FN-MIP had a better effect on cell adhesion than NIP.

Fabrication and evaluation of molecularly imprinted magnetic nanoparticles for selective recognition and magnetic separation of lysozyme in human urine

The Lyz-MMIPs displayed a uniform core–shell structure, favorable magnetic properties, good accessibility, and good stability and had a good affinity and excellent binding selectivity to Lyz.