Oxytocin receptor mimetics prepared by molecular imprinting

Oxytocin receptor mimetics were prepared by molecular imprinting using Z-oxytocin as the template. Comparative binding studies with reference polymers showed that the imprinted polymers recognized both Z-oxytocin and unprotected oxytocin selectively. The dissociation constants were 47 mu M and 102 mu M, respectively, and the density of binding sites was 12 mu mol/g. The synthetic oxytocin receptors were easily prepared, possessed high mechanical and chemical stability, and were reused without loss of selectivity and capacity after regeneration by extraction.