Molecularly Imprinted Polymers via Reversible Covalent Bonding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Covalent molecularly imprinted polymers are costly and laborious to prepare, and non-covalent methods have low capacity and are less effective for separation applications due to low stoichiometry and inhomogeneity of binding sites, excluding hydrophilic templates like oligosaccharides and pharmaceuticals from imprinting.
Innovation Solution
A method combining the simplicity of non-covalent imprinting with the high capacity of covalent imprinting, where monomers and templates form reversible covalent complexes in a solvent system, allowing for the direct formation of molecularly imprinted polymers without pre-synthesis of template-monomer complexes, using solvents like aqueous systems with additives to promote covalent bond formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If covalent imprinting is used, then the capacity and binding strength of the polymer is improved, but the preparation process becomes costly and laborious
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the template molecule from the final polymer structure, allowing it to be removed after polymerization. This enables the use of covalent bonding during polymerization (for high capacity) while avoiding the need for permanent covalent attachment, thereby reducing preparation complexity and cost
Solution Approach 2:
The template molecule is pre-assembled with monomers before polymerization to form a template-monomer complex. This preliminary organization ensures high binding capacity through covalent interactions, while the template can be subsequently removed to simplify the final product preparation
2Ease of manufacture
If non-covalent imprinting is used, then the preparation process is simplified, but the capacity and binding strength decrease due to low stoichiometry
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the bonding parameter from purely non-covalent to covalent during polymerization. This increases the stoichiometry and binding capacity while maintaining the simplified one-pot preparation process, as the covalent bonds form automatically during polymerization without requiring pre-synthesis
3Manufacturing precision
If covalent template-monomer complexes are pre-synthesized, then the binding sites are more uniform, but the preparation time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the complex formation step with the polymerization step into a single process. The template-monomer complex forms in situ during polymerization, achieving uniform binding sites through covalent organization while eliminating the separate pre-synthesis step that consumes time and resources
4Adaptability or versatility
If hydrophilic templates are used with conventional covalent imprinting, then the template diversity is improved, but the templates become insoluble in the required solvents
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the solvent parameter to water or aqueous systems, which provides the necessary solubility for hydrophilic templates. The covalent bonding mechanism remains effective in aqueous media, allowing diverse hydrophilic templates to be used without sacrificing solubility
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach increases the capacity and effectiveness of molecularly imprinted polymers for separation, drug screening, and catalysis, enabling the use of previously excluded hydrophilic templates with improved separation factors and productivity, such as up to 25 times higher oligosaccharide separation rates.
Implementation Method 1
monomers and templates form reversible covalent complexes in a solvent system, allowing for the direct formation of molecularly imprinted polymers without pre-synthesis of template-monomer complexes
Implementation Method 2
monomers and templates forms a covalent template-monomer complex by reversible self-assembly
Implementation Method 3
polymerizing said mixture
Implementation Method 4
molecularly imprinted polymers and their use in separation
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to molecularly imprinted polymers, methods for their preparation and use of said molecularly imprinted polymers in separation, chemical sensors, drug screening, catalysis and in regioselective and enantioselective synthesis.