IMPRINTED POLYMERS AS ANTIBODY MIMETICS AND NEW AFFINITY GELS FOR SELECTIVE SEPARATIONS IN CAPILLARY ELECTROPHORESIS

Methacrylate-based imprinted dispersion polymers could be prepared in situ in a fused-silica capillary as agglomerates (ca. 10 mu m) of micrometer-sized globular particles, exhibiting antibody mimetic, molecular recognition properties. Thus, in one example, imprinted polymer particles selective for pentamidine (PAM), a drug used for the treatment of AIDS-related pneumonia, could be prepared in situ in the capillary. The retention could be varied predictably by changing the electrolyte pH. Thus, whereas no observable elution of PAM was achieved at near neutral pH, the PAM-selective capillary gave a retention time of 18 min for PAM and 7.8 min for benzamidine at pH 3.5 whereas the retention times were 6.6 and 6.1 min, respectively, with a reference capillary. Importantly, the electrolyte could by pumped hydrodynamically through the capillaries, allowing rapid phase changes and micro-chromatographic possibilities with high plate numbers.