Analytical followup of the gamma initiated synthesis of a molecularly imprinted polymer

A molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) for the template phenytoin has been prepared by gamma initiated copolymerization of methacrylamide and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate. The progress of polymerization was studied by measuring the monomer conversions and the template binding properties of the resulting polymers, respectively. The consumption rate of the two monomers showed different course. There was no difference observed in the polymerization rates of the MIP and the control polymer (NIP). The template binding properties of the MIP and the NIP changed considerably with the progress of the polymerization process and became similar to those of the thermally initiated polymers after full conversion.