Biomimetic estimation of glucose using non-molecular and molecular imprinted polymer nanosponges

The aim of the present work was to develop biomimetics for glucose estimation using molecularly and non-molecularly imprinted polymers of pyromellitic dianhydride crosslinked β-cyclodextrin based nanosponges. The ionic association of glucose phosphate to nanosponges by polymerization reaction and removal of glucose created molecular imprinted polymer (MIP)-nanosponges with affinity for glucose binding. Particle size, zeta potential, glucose binding studies and FTIR were used to characterize molecular and non-molecular imprinted polymer (NIP) nanosponges. Particle size of the nanosponges was found in the range of 450.81 ± 5.33 nm to 550.63 ± 8.14 nm with low polydispersity index. MIP-nanosponges retained a relatively large population of pores in the nano-range, while NIP was related to the nonporous materials with weak interaction and had poor tendency to aggregate. Nanosponges showed the variation in binding capacities and specificities; and also exhibited a similar degree of swelling. Moreover electrostatic force of attraction and cavities specific fitting of glucose in MIP-nanosponges might be due to advance selectivity and affinity for glucose. FTIR study showed glucose molecules might be entered into the selective binding cavities, which were created by the extraction of template molecules It is concluded that nanosized MIP-nanosponges have advantages over conventional NIP due to diffusion of template in the formed cavity as of its high surface area.