Molecularly Imprinted Polymers for Catechin Recognition Prepared Using Dummy-Template Molecules

Abstract

Molecular imprinting for (+)-catechin (CA) recognition was successfully demonstrated using naringerin (NG) and 7-hydroxyflavanon (7HF) derivatives as dummy-template molecules. Molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) films were synthesized using methacryloyl NG (NGMA) by semi-covalent-type imprinting process on gold substrate. The selective binding property toward CA was confirmed by surface plasmon resonance measurements, and we clarified that the imprinting process was effective for the formation of the specific binding cavities from the results of binding experiments for non-imprinted polymers (NIPs), in which the binding amounts towards CA and its analogue were negligible. Moreover, we synthesized successfully the bulk MIPs for CA separation using methacryloyl 7HF (7HFMA) as dummy-template and methacrylamidyl β-cyclodextrin (βCD) as another functional monomers by combination of semi-covalent- and non-covalent-type molecular imprinting processes. For the bulk MIPs, the binding property of obtained βCD-MIP was confirmed by the fluorescent measurements derived from CA remained in the supernatant after interaction with obtained βCD-MIP. From these results, the molecular imprinting with dummy-template is effective technique for preparation of the CA recognition materials (MIPs). The technique is promising for the development of the separation materials for CA as well as the other important compounds.