Combinatorial molecular imprinting: An approach to synthetic polymer receptors

A novel method for synthesizing and evaluating artificial receptors is demonstrated, combining a molecular imprinting concept and a combinatorial chemistry strategy. Combinatorial libraries of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) were prepared and screened for high affinity and selectivity to the original template by a newly developed semiautomatic system. The preparation of MIPs was automatically performed using programmed liquid-handling equipment with a new in situ molecular imprinting protocol whereby MIP is prepared on the bottom surface of each glass vial, followed by an automated discrete binding test with the programmed liquid handler. MIPs as artificial receptors for triazine herbicides, ametryn and atrazine, were prepared by the combinatorial molecular imprinting using a diverse amount of two functional monomers, methacrylic acid (MAA) and 2-(trifluoromethyl)acrylic acid (TFMAA). Examining the MIP libraries, it appears that, depending upon the functional monomer used, the imprinting efficiency is different for each triazine herbicide; MAA is preferred for the atrazine receptor preparation and TFMAA for the ametryn receptor preparation. The results suggest that the proposed high-throughput combinatorial molecularly imprinting technique is a promising method for finding optimal conditions of MIP preparation for given molecules.