Molecular imprinting using monomers with solid-state polymerization Original Research Article

Molecular imprinting of two diolefinic compounds with solid-state photopolymerization, 2,5-distyrylpyrazine (DSP) and diethyl p-phenylenediacrylate (EPA), was demonstrated. Solid nanoscale particles of the monomer were produced and deposited onto the surface of a surface acoustic wave (SAW) transducer using the technique known as rapid expansion of supercritical solutions (RESS). The particles were polymerized by UV light in the presence of an alkane template vapor. Both imprinted and non-imprinted devices were tested upon exposure to a variety of alkane vapors in the gas phase. The results demonstrate an enhanced sensitivity to vapors at or below the size of the template. A size exclusion mechanism of recognition is proposed.