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Insight into molecular imprinting in precipitation polymerization systems using solution NMR and dynamic light scattering
Author(s) -
Long Yuanyuan,
Philip Joseph Y. N.,
Schillén Karin,
Liu Feng,
Ye Lei
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of molecular recognition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.401
H-Index - 79
eISSN - 1099-1352
pISSN - 0952-3499
DOI - 10.1002/jmr.1097
Subject(s) - dynamic light scattering , imprinting (psychology) , polymerization , light scattering , materials science , molecular imprinting , precipitation polymerization , chemical physics , precipitation , scattering , chemical engineering , polymer , chemistry , nanotechnology , optics , radical polymerization , physics , organic chemistry , selectivity , catalysis , engineering , composite material , meteorology , nanoparticle , biochemistry , gene
Molecular imprinting is a powerful synthetic technique for generating template‐defined binding sites in cross‐linked polymers. One scientific challenge in molecular imprinting research is to understand the intermolecular interactions leading to molecular complexation and the process of binding site formation during polymerization. In this work, we present a novel method for studying the molecular imprinting process in precipitation polymerization systems. This method employs solution 1 H NMR and dynamic light scattering (DLS) to investigate the association of template molecules with colloidal particles and the dynamic process of particle growth. Under precipitation polymerization conditions, the colloidal particles formed did not interfere with NMR signals from the soluble components, allowing unreacted monomers and free template to be easily quantified. To examine the process of particle nucleation and growth, DLS was used to measure the hydrodynamic particle size at different reaction times. To corroborate the interpretation of the NMR and DLS results, imprinted nanoparticles were collected at different reaction times and their binding characteristics were evaluated using radioligand‐binding analysis. Our experimental results provide new insights into the molecular imprinting process that will be useful in the development of new imprinted nanoparticles. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.