Molecularly imprinted polymers for high-specificity template molecule recognition

Molecularly imprinted polymers are created using calcium alginate microcapsules that can specifically recognize and bind template molecules like proteins. These biocompatible microcapsules are useful in medical diagnostics and food industry detection and can be reused after washing.

Background

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) have garnered significant interest due to their ability to mimic the molecular recognition properties of biological systems such as antibodies and enzymes. These polymers are synthesized in the presence of a template molecule, which is later removed to leave behind a cavity that can selectively rebind the template.

While MIPs have been successfully used for small molecule recognition, their application to macromolecules like proteins and peptides has faced several challenges. Traditional methods often involve the use of organic solvents and surfactants, which are not compatible with biomedical or food-related applications requiring biocompatibility. In addition, these methods typically result in low recognition capacities and require extended periods for template removal.

Alginate-based systems have been explored due to their biocompatibility and biodegradability, but previous approaches using inverse suspension methods have relied on organic chemicals, limiting their utility in life sciences. Furthermore, these methods have demonstrated limited efficiency in recognizing and binding macromolecules, with low binding capacities and long processing times. There is a need for improved methods that can achieve higher recognition capacities, faster processing times, and compatibility with biocompatible materials.

Technology description

Methods of preparing molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) involve creating calcium alginate microcapsules in the presence of a template molecule, such as bovine serum albumin (BSA). This process begins by combining sodium alginate with a solution containing the template molecule to form a second solution. This second solution is then added to calcium chloride, resulting in the formation of microcapsules through ionic gelation. These microcapsules are designed to bind the template molecule with high specificity. The template molecule can later be removed by washing the microcapsules with an elution solution, allowing the microcapsules to be reused for recognizing the same template molecule. The resulting microcapsules are biocompatible, making them suitable for various applications in life sciences, such as medical diagnostics and food industry detection.

This technology is differentiated by its use of biocompatible materials—sodium alginate and calcium chloride—making it suitable for medical and alimentary applications. Unlike previous methods that required organic solvents and surfactants, this approach uses simple, non-toxic reactants, ensuring compatibility with sensitive applications.

Additionally, the method achieves a higher binding capacity for the template molecule, with the ability to bind up to 3 milligrams of BSA per gram of microcapsule. The process is also more efficient, reducing the time required for template removal to about five hours, compared to the 48 hours needed in previous methods. This rapid and facile preparation results in microcapsules with uniform pores and controlled size, enhancing their applicability in various diagnostic and detection scenarios.

Benefits

High specificity binding to template molecules such as bovine serum albumin (BSA)
Biocompatibility suitable for medical diagnostics and food industry detection
Reusable microcapsules through template molecule removal and rebinding
Simple formulation using only sodium alginate and calcium chloride
Rapid preparation process compared to traditional polymerization methods
Uniform pore size and controlled microcapsule size
Potential for recognizing higher quantities of template molecules
Facile and time-efficient template removal process