[A portable sensory system for phenols detection based on molecular-imprinted polymers with catalytic properties].

Portable devices for the express control of the phenols content in water were developed. Polymers mimicking active site of the enzyme tyrosinase, synthesized using the method of molecular imprinting, were obtained by co-polymerization of the complex Cu (II)-catechol-urocanic acid ethyl ester with ethyleneglycoldimethacrylate. Concentration of phenols in the analyzed samples was detected using universal portable device oxymeter with the oxygen electrode in a close contact with catalytic molecularly-imprinted polymer as a transducer. The detection limit of phenols detection using the developed sensor system based on polymers-biomimics with the optimized composition comprised 0.078 mM, while the linear range of the sensor comprised 0.078-5 mM. The working characteristics of the portable sensor devices were investigated. The possibility of repeated use of the catalytic polymers-biomimics as selective elements of the developed portable sensor systems was demonstrated. Storage stability of sensor systems at room temperature was 12 months (90%). As compared to traditional methods of phenols detection the developed sensor system is characterized by operation simplicity, compactness, and low cost.

[Aflatoxin-selective molecularly-imprinted polymer membranes based on acrylate-polyurethane semi-interpenetrating polymer networks].

Synthetic analogs of biological receptors able to group-selective recognition of aflatoxins were obtained using the combination of the technique of molecular imprinting with the method of computer modeling. The synthetic receptors were obtained in a form of thin and porous membranes based on semi-interpenetrating polymer networks. The selection of functional monomers able to noncovalent interactions with aflatoxins B1, B2, and G2 was based on the data of computer modeling. Allylamine, diethylaminoethylmethacrylate, and N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide, providing high binding energies with aflatoxins B1, B2, and G2 were selected as functional monomers for the formation of aflatoxin B1-imprinted polymer membranes. It was shown that aflatoxin-B1-imprinted polymeric membranes synthesized using N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide as a functional monomer were characterized with good physico-mechanical properties as well as good adsorbtion capability towards aflatoxin B1. Neglidgible levels of aflatoxin B1 adsorbtion on the surface of blank membranes were observed. High adsorbtion capability of the MIP membranes towards mycotoxins affiliated to the group of aflatoxins was demonstrated, while negligible adsorbtion of ochratoxin A was observed. Therefore, synthetic analogs of biological receptors able to group-selective recognition of aflatoxins in the range 1-1000 ppb were developed.