Molecularly imprinted polymers for simultaneous determination of antiepileptics in river water samples by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

A restricted access media–molecularly imprinted polymer (RAM–MIP) for cyclobarbital has been developed for selective extraction of antiepileptics in river water samples. The RAM–MIP was prepared using 4-vinylpyridine and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as a functional monomer and cross-linker, respectively, by a multi-step swelling and polymerization method followed by a surface modification technique. The RAM–MIP for cyclobarbital showed molecular recognition abilities for phenobarbital, amobarbital and phenytoin as well as cyclobarbital. Thus, selective analysis of antiepileptics in river water samples was attained with RAM–MIP extraction followed by column-switching liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. The concentrations of phenobarbital and phenytoin in river water samples were about 15 and 4 ng/L, respectively, while that of amobarbital was below the limit of quantitation.