Specific uptake luteolin by boronate affinity-based single-hole hollow imprinted polymers sealed in dialysis bags

Boronate affinity-based single-hole hollow imprinted polymers (BA-H-MIPs) were fabricated and sealed in dialysis bags for highly specific adsorption of cis-diol containing luteolin (LTL). This preparation strategy is implemented through the direct imprinted polymerization reaction occurring on the surface of carboxyl-capping polystyrene colloids (CPS), and the creating mechanism of single hole is the concomitant microphase separation and symmetrical volume shrinkage of imprinted shells. BA-H-MIPs possess uniform size (200 nm), single holes (50 nm) and hollow structure, and high-affinity sites density (0.27 mg m−2). In static adsorption, BA-H-MIPs show specific high-capacity uptake of target LTL at 318 K (46.96 mg g−1), fast capture kinetics (200 min), remarkable selectivity and regeneration performances. By a pH-responsive purification process, a commercially available 85% LTL could be simply concentrated to 95.88% by BA-H-MIPs, and the purified products have the similar antibacterial performance with standard substance. In addition, the special structure of hollow interior surfaces and single holes provide high site accessibility and abundant imprinted sites, which is the key factor for improving selective binding performance.