Molecularly imprinted films of acrylonitrile/methyl methacrylate/acrylic acid terpolymers: influence of methyl methacrylate in the binding performance of l-ephedrine imprinted films

Abstract

Molecularly imprinted polymeric films (MIPFs) highly selective to 1R,2S(−)ephedrine (L-ephedrine, EPD) were produced by phase inversion post-polymerization imprinting on poly(acrylonitrile-co-methyl methacrylate-co-acrylic acid) (PAMA) terpolymers. The inclusion of methyl methacrylate (MMA) to the polymer formulation resulted in enhanced EPD selectivity which appears to be dictated by polymer composition to achieve the necessary balance between polymer rigidity and porosity. Substitution of MMA with methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate and n-butyl acrylate resulted in a loss of EPD selectivity and EPD entrapment within the polymer matrix not observed in PAMA MIPFs. MMA, by virtue of its methyl group, is able to provide the scaffolding and rigidity necessary for stability and preservation of imprinted cavities within the PAMA MIPF leading to high EPD selectivity.