Selectivity optimisation of biomimetic molecularly imprinted polymer thin films

This study describes the design and synthesis of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) as patterned thin films, based on molecular modelling of functional monomer-template interactions and validation by NMR-spectroscopy. MIPs were prepared by dissolving the specific template and functional methacrylate monomer at varying ratios with a cross-linker and initiator in a porogenic solvent, spin-coating the solution onto 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate-functionalised silicon wafers and photo-polymerisation. After template extraction, the film thickness and topography were characterised with atomic force microscopy. A 4-vinylpyridine-MIP thin film layer was then deposited by photo-lithographic etching onto this polymerised methacrylic acid MIP thin film, resulting in a grid-patterned surface in which two different MIPs alternated at a micron scale. Selectivity differences towards fluorescent template analogues were documented using fluorescence microscopy. This side-by-side comparison on the same thin film allows fast and cost-effective assessment of MIP selectivities with various biomolecules.

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► Biomimetic molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) thin films were made on silicon wafers.
► Polymerisation chemistry was optimised with molecular modelling and NMR-spectroscopy.
► Patterned, double-layered amino acid imprinted films were made with photolithography.
► Fluorescent amino acids analogues of the template were used as selectivity probes.
► The side-by-side comparison of films allowed reliable assessment of MIP selectivities.