Selective adsorption of elastase by surface molecular imprinting materials prepared with novel monomer

Abstract

A new functional monomer with diol groups was synthesized and applied to fabricate surface molecular imprinting polymers (SMIPs) microspheres for selective adsorption of elastase. The SMIPs were prepared by free radical polymerization reaction on the surface of silica spheres and characterized by scanning electron microscope and thermogravimetric analysis. Even using a very low concentration of monomer (less than 1 wt%), the prepared SMIPs microspheres show high affinity to elastase. In addition, the imprinted polymer shell-layers of SMIPs microspheres were thin, which benefits the approach and recognition of elastase. The adsorption property of SMIPs microspheres was investigated by rebinding experiments, and the results show that SMIPs microspheres have a good adsorption capacity up to 22.3 ± 2.0 mg g⁻¹ and good adsorptive selectivity for elastase.