Development of a molecularly imprinted polymer for the analysis of avermectin

Five molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) were synthesized for a large molecule, avermectin, using different preparation techniques, monomers, and polymerization solvents. Selectivities (α) of each were compared using HPLC and different mobile phases containing various levels of acetic acid. Selectivity (α) for avermectin was greatest (α estimated ≥18) when the polymer was prepared non-covalently (utilizing only non-covalent interactions between avermectin and monomer) in chloroform using methacrylic acid (MAA) monomer and evaluated in chloroform. When evaluated in acetonitrile, an MIP prepared in acetonitrile provided better selectivity (α = 8.4) than the polymer prepared in chloroform. Optimizing mobile phase conditions by adding acetic acid was much more important when MIPs were evaluated in chloroform than in acetonitrile. MIPs prepared with MAA provided better selectivity than a polymer prepared with acrylamide monomer. Covalent preparation of two MIPs utilizing a covalent bond between avermectin and monomer before polymerization did not improve selectivity but did improve peak shape in chromatograms. Specificity was demonstrated by comparing the selectivity of avermectin with eprinomectin (α = 3.0), a compound with a very similar structure. Results indicate that an MIP can be prepared for the large avermectin molecule, and has the potential to simplify sample preparation and to reduce the time needed for analysis.