Selective adsorption of norfloxacin in aqueous media by an imprinted polymer based on hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions

Based on hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions, a norfloxacin (NOF) imprinted polymer (P1) was prepared by the combined use of bismethacryloyl-β-cyclodextrin (BMA-β-CD) and 2-(diethylamino)ethylmethacrylate (DEAEM) as functional monomers. Compared with the molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) using only BMA-β-CD or DEAEM as a functional monomer, P2 and P3, respectively, P1 showed higher binding affinity and specificity for NOF in aqueous media. Scatchard plot analysis revealed that two classes of binding sites were formed in the imprinted polymer with dissociation constants of 0.32 μmol/ml and 1.19 μmol/ml, respectively. It demonstrated that the combination of hydrophobic effect and electrostatic interaction in molecular imprinting was essential for the improvement of the selective ability of the imprinted polymer. Factors that influenced rebinding of the imprinted polymer including pH, water content in the adsorbed solution were explored.