Selective photocatalysis mediated by magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers

Unveiling the Latest Developments in Molecularly Imprinted Photocatalysts: A State-of-the-Art Review

Responding to the growing concerns about environmental pollutants, scientists are increasingly turning to innovative solutions rooted in the field of environmental science. One such promising avenue combines the robustness of traditional photocatalysis with the precision of molecular imprinting, leading to the proposition of molecularly imprinted photocatalysts (MIPCs). These MIPCs hold the potential to specifically target and eliminate environmental pollutants, marking them as a promising tool in modern environmental remediation. As researchers delve deeper into this field, the design and optimization of MIPCs have become hotbeds for scientific inquiry. This comprehensive overview delves into the multifaceted approaches to MIPC design, elucidating on aspects like the selection of appropriate photocatalytic bases, the pivotal role of templates, the choice of monomeric building blocks, and the integration of effective cross-linking agents. However, as with all burgeoning technologies, the development of MIPCs is not without its challenges. These potential impediments to the successful innovation and implementation of MIPCs are also explored.

Enhanced photocatalytic degradation of doxycycline using a magnetic polymer-ZnO composite

A novel magnetic polymer-ZnO composite was prepared by incorporating Fe₃O₄ and ZnO nano-particles in the structure of an adsorbent polymer. Precipitation polymerization was used for synthesizing the adsorbent polymer and its efficiency for extracting doxycycline from aqueous solution was optimized according to several parameters including time, pH and amount of polymer. Results showed the highest extraction efficiency at neutral pH of the doxycycline solution in 20 min, and the capacity of the polymer was about 20 mg/g. The magnetic property of a material is important for fast and facile separation of composite particles after each use. Magnetic polymer-ZnO composite was synthesized by adding Fe₃O₄ and ZnO nano-particles to the polymerization mixture in order to take advantage of both sorption and photocatalytic degradation mechanisms. The obtained composite was characterized using X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy equipped with wavelength dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and used for enhanced photocatalytic degradation of doxycycline in aqueous solution. Results showed 76.5% degradation of doxycycline in 6 hours which was significantly higher than the degradation observed by an equivalent amount of ZnO nano-particles. Photocatalytic degradation of doxycycline fitted the pseudo first order kinetic model with a rate constant of 4 × 10^-3 μg mL^-1 min^-1.

Preparation of water-compatible molecularly imprinted thiol-functionalized activated titanium dioxide: Selective adsorption and efficient photodegradation of 2, 4-dinitrophenol in aqueous solution

A novel water-compatible surface molecularly imprinted thiol-functionalized titanium dioxide (TiO₂) material (CMIP-coated TiO₂) was prepared in water, using 2, 4-dinitrophenol (2, 4-DNP) as template molecule and o-phenylenediamine (OPDA) as both functional monomer and cross-linker. The as-synthesized materials were characterized by FESEM, FTIR, XRD, BET and UV-vis DRS. Moreover, we have investigated the adsorption capacity, adsorption selectivity and photodegradation activity of the CMIP-coated TiO₂ and non-molecular imprinted materials (CNIP-coated TiO₂). Additionally, the effects of pH and concentration of 2, 4-DNP on the degradation rate of 2, 4-DNP were also investigated. Results showed that CMIP-coated TiO₂ exhibited higher adsorption capacity, greater selectivity and faster photodegradation activity for 2, 4-DNP compared with the CNIP-coated TiO₂. Meanwhile, the specific selectivity to 2, 4-DNP over its structural analogue 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) and the enhanced photodegradation capacity were mainly attributed to the imprinted cavities on the surface of CMIP-coated TiO₂. Taking advantage of efficient removal capacity, high reusability and no-additional chemicals in imprinted process, the prepared materials can be potentially applied to "green" removal of 2, 4-DNP in wastewater.

Synergistic Catalysis by "Polymeric Microzymes and Inorganic Nanozymes": The 1+1>2 Effect for Intramolecular Cyclization of Peptides

In this work, we developed an efficient "molecularly imprinted polymer microzymes and inorganic magnetic nanozymes" synergistic catalysis strategy for the formation of disulfide bonds in peptides. The polymeric microzymes showed excellent selectivity toward the template peptide as well as the main reactant (linear peptide), and the Fe₃O₄ magnetic nanoparticle (MNP) nanozymes inhibited the intermolecular reaction during the formation of disulfide bonds in peptides. As a result, the integration of the two different artificial enzymes in one process facilitates the intramolecular cyclization in high product yields (59.3%) with excellent selectivity. Mechanism study indicates the synergistic effect was occurred by using a "reversed solid phase synthesis" strategy with an enhanced shift of reaction balance to product generation. We believe the synergistic catalysis by "polymeric microzymes and inorganic nanozymes" presented in the present work may open new opportunities in creation of multifunctional enzyme mimics for sensing, imaging, and drug delivery.

On-Line two dimensional liquid chromatography based on skeleton type molecularly imprinted column for selective determination of sulfonylurea additive in Chinese patent medicines or functional foods

Substandard and counterfeit anti-diabetic medicines directly influence the health and impose a great danger to individual patients and to public health. Counterfeiting has become a serious and underreported problem in the pharmaceutical industry. There are a large number of counterfeit medicines flooded in anti-diabetic markets which effect human health directly and indirectly. Therefore, some novel analytical techniques are necessary to be established for detecting these counterfeit drugs. In this study, a novel skeleton type molecularly imprinted column was successfully prepared. Based on the column, a simple, fast and reliable two-dimensional chromatography analytical system was established for selective determination of the illegal sulfonylurea additive in traditional Chinese patent medicines and functional foods. The developed method was validated. The linearitiesof the method were tested with calibration curves using ten calibration points in the concentration range of 0.25-12.5μg/g. The LODs were 0.0125μg/g and 0.01μg/g for tolbutamide and glibenclamide respectively. The five batches of Chinese patent medicines and dietary supplements obtained from different markets and online websites were tested by the validated method. With good retention time and spectral confirmation, chemical anti-diabetic substances were identified and quantified in traditional Chinese medicine and in dietary supplements.

A convenient approach of MIP/Co–TiO2 nanocomposites with highly enhanced photocatalytic activity and selectivity under visible light irradiation

MIP/Co–TiO₂ nanocomposites were synthesized. Their mechanisms of preferable photocatalytic activity and good selectivity for target contaminants were identified and discussed.

In vitro/in vivo study of novel anti-cancer, biodegradable cross-linked tannic acid for fabrication of 5-fluorouracil-targeting drug delivery nano-device based on a molecular imprinted polymer

The structure of a 5-fluorouracil carrier and fluorescent image of an animal after injection under a magnetic field.

Application of molecularly imprinted polymers in wastewater treatment: a review

Molecularly imprinted polymers are synthetic polymers possessing specific cavities designed for target molecules. They are prepared by copolymerization of a cross-linking agent with the complex formed from a template and monomers that have functional groups specifically interacting with the template through covalent or noncovalent bonds. Subsequent removal of the imprint template leaves specific cavities whose shape, size, and functional groups are complementary to the template molecule. Because of their predetermined selectivity, molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) can be used as ideal materials in wastewater treatment. Especially, MIP-based composites offer a wide range of potentialities in wastewater treatment. This paper reviews the latest applications of MIPs in wastewater treatment, highlights the development of MIP-based composites in wastewater, and offers suggestions for future success in the field of MIPs.

Topotactic growth, selective adsorption, and adsorption-driven photocatalysis of protonated layered titanate nanosheets

Layered titanates with selective adsorption ability and adsorption-driven photocatalytic property can be quite attractive due to their potential applications in water purification. In this work, lepidocrocite-like layered protonated titanate (H2Ti2O5·H2O, denoted as HTO) nanosheets were successfully synthesized by an ion-exchange process. It turns out that this layered structure displays an abundant and selective adsorption toward the fluoroquinolone pharmaceutical compared with some large dye molecules due to a size selectivity of the interlayer spacing of HTO and the molecular horizontal size, as well as their electrostatic interaction. The uptake ability of HTO could be readily controlled through adjusting the pH values of adsorbate solution, and the maximum uptake capacity was achieved at the pH value of about 5.5 for ciprofloxacin (CIP) and 6.5 for moxifloxacin (MOX). The adsorption amount of smaller nalidixic acid (NAL) showed an increasing tendency as the pH value decreased. Moreover, the two-dimensional layered crystal structure also permits such HTO nanosheets to have a large percentage of (010) faces exposed, which is considerably provided by the interlayer surfaces of these nanosheets. The (010) surface has a similar Ti and O atomic arrangement as to the highly reactive anatase TiO2(001) one. Due to these specific characteristics, these HTO nanosheets show excellent photocatalytic activity in degrading CIP under UV light irradiation as well as possess a superior adsorption ability to remove CIP from aqueous solution selectively and efficiently. The photocatalytic reaction is believed to be mainly conducted on the active anatase (001)-like interlayer (010) surfaces of the layered structures since the as-prepared HTO performs an adsorption-driven molecular recognitive photocatalytic reaction.