Molecularly imprinted polymers via living radical polymerization: Relating increased structural homogeneity to improved template binding parameters

Vishal D. Salian, Charles J. White, Mark E. Byrne

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

This work examined imprinted polymer networks prepared via controlled/living radical polymerization (LRP) and conventional radical polymerization (CRP) on chain growth, network formation, and efficiency of producing molecularly imprinted, macromolecular memory sites for the template molecule, diclofenac sodium. LRP extended the reaction-controlled regime of the polymerization reaction and formed more homogeneous polymer chains and networks with smaller mesh sizes. In addition, LRP negated the effect of the template on polymer chain growth resulting in polymers with a more consistent PDI independent of template concentration in the pre-polymerization solution. Improved network homogeneity within imprinted poly(HEMA-co-DEAEM-co-PEG200DMA) networks prepared via LRP resulted in a 38% increase in template binding affinity and 43% increase in the template binding over imprinted networks prepared via CRP and a 97% increase in affinity and 130% increase in capacity over non-imprinted networks prepared by LRP. By varying certain parameters, it was possible to create imprinted networks with even higher template binding affinities (155% over non-imprinted) and capacities (261% over non-imprinted). This work is the first to conclusively demonstrate that the observed improvement in binding parameters in weakly crosslinked, imprinted polymer networks could be explained by the more uniform molecular weight evolution associated with the LRP mechanism and the longer lifetime of an active polymer chain relative to the total polymerization time, which allowed for the formation of a more homogenous imprinted polymer network.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)38-46
Number of pages9
JournalReactive and Functional Polymers
Volume78
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2014
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Chemistry
  • Environmental Chemistry
  • Biochemistry
  • General Chemical Engineering
  • Polymers and Plastics
  • Materials Chemistry

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