Synthesis of an imprinted hybrid organic-inorganic polymeric sol-gel matrix toward the specific binding and isotherm kinetics investigation of creatinine.

Hybrid organic-inorganic polymeric sol-gel materials imprinted with creatinine template molecules were synthesized for the specific binding of creatinine. Creatinine is a metabolite from creatine and is the final product from kidney metabolism. Therefore, creatinine can be an important index to estimate the function of the kidney. It was then chosen as the target molecule in this work. To achieve the specific binding toward creatinine, molecular imprinting was used to create a polymeric matrix for the regarding purpose. Sol-gel was further added to create a rigid network structure for the absorption of creatinine. An inorganic precursor, tetraethoxysilane (TEOS), was mixed with an organic functional monomer, 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane-sulfonic acid (AMPS), and the creatinine template to form a hybrid organic-inorganic imprinted polymer. The chemical functionality was achieved as well as a confined matrix via the polymerization and the hydrolysis-condensation of the sol-gel. The imprinting effect from the hybrid materials against the corresponding nonimprinted was investigated. BET (Brunauer-Emmett-Teller) analysis was carried out for the imprinted and the nonimprinted materials. The specificity of the hybrid materials was further examined by capping the surface silanol groups with chloro-trimethylsilane (CTMS) and 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS), respectively. The capping effect was compared and discussed from the binding results. Selectivity of the materials toward creatinine was obtained using mixture solutions in the presence of creatinine and its analogues. Reutilization and storage stability of the hybrid organic-inorganic imprinted material were also studied. Additionally, the affinity distribution of the hybrid imprinted materials derived from the allosteric model was also analyzed from the adsorption isotherm data.

Amperometric detection of bilirubin from a micro-sensing electrode with a synthetic bilirubin imprinted poly(MAA-co-EGDMA) film.

Poly(methacrylic acid-co-ethyl glycol dimethylacrylate) (poly(MAA-co-EGDMA)) imprinted with alpha-bilirubin was shown to be able to bind alpha-bilirubin in our previous work. In this work, the corresponding imprinted polymer thin film was synthesized onto a thiol treated Au electrode by surface grafting polymerization. Bilirubin was able to be detected by an Au electrode, however, the electrode was not be able to discriminate bilirubin from the other matrix components if clinical samples were used. Therefore, the imprinted material was introduced so that the modified Au electrode could specifically detect bilirubin. Optimal potential was found to be 0.55 V and this was set for the rest of experiments. The imprinting factor of 3.16 was confirmed by comparing the signals from the MIP-Au and the NIP (non-imprinted polymer)-Au electrode. Calibration of the bilirubin concentration with respect to the current by the MIP-Au electrode was made within the range of 5mg/dl and a detection sensitivity of 0.644 microA/mg/dl (2.58 microA/cm(2)/mg/dl) was obtained. Furthermore, a linear correlation of the bilirubin concentration within 1.0mg/dl versus detection current was also achieved. Bilirubin was further detected by the MIP-Au electrode in the presence of fetal bovine serum (FBS). Repeated detection of bilirubin with at least three detection batches was performed and the reproducibility of the same piece of MIP-Au electrode was confirmed. The result was compared to those obtained from the serum and the solvent solution. The results indicated the feasibility of using the bilirubin imprinted poly(MAA-co-EGDMA) film as a sensing electrode for the clinical detection of bilirubin in serum.

Ionic effect on the binding of bilirubin to the imprinted poly(methacrylic acid-co-ethylene glycol dimethylacrylate).

A molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) capable of detecting bilirubin was successfully synthesized. Bilirubin template was imprinted in poly(methacrylic acid-co-ethylene glycol dimethylacrylate) [poly(MAA-co-EGDMA)]. MAA and EGDMA were used as the monomer and the cross-linker, respectively. The optimal solvent conditions to maintain its stability were discussed. Solvent system based on ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) and ascorbic acid was compared with respect to the stability of bilirubin. pH and bilirubin concentration were both investigated for the bilirubin stability. Blue light as well as aeration was applied to inspect the regarding effects. The cross-linking effect was further confirmed by the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The effect of salts, such as NaCl and KCl on the binding capacity of the molecularly imprinted polymer was also discussed. Further, the rat serum and bile samples were applied and the binding of the MIPs for bilirubin was thus confirmed.