On the synthesis of peptide imprinted polymers by a combined suspension—Epitope polymerization method

In the past, molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs), prepared by free-radical bulk polymerization, have been used for the selective recognition of small biomolecules (i.e., amino acids and amino acid derivatives). Presently, there is a need for the synthesis of MIPs capable of recognizing larger biomolecules (i.e., peptides and proteins). Moreover, it is highly desirable the production of MIP microparticles with well-defined morphological characteristics (e.g., particle size distribution, porosity, etc.) via particulate polymerization techniques. In the present study, the synthesis of molecularly imprinted microparticles, produced via the suspension and inverse suspension polymerization methods, using the “epitope approach”, is reported. The hydrophobic (i.e., Boc-Trp-Trp-Trp) or hydrophilic (i.e., His-Phe) oligo-peptides were employed as template molecules. The potential of the combined suspension polymerization method with the “epitope approach” for the production of MIP microparticles is demonstrated, as well as the specificity and selectivity characteristics of the MIP microparticles towards hydrophobic and hydrophilic oligo-peptides. The proposed method appears to be a very promising and efficient technique for separation of proteins.