Synthesis and photoresponsive properties of a molecularly imprinted polymer

A photoresponsive molecularly imprinted polymer was prepared from a di(ureidoethylenemethacrylate)azobenzene monomer, using a methotrexate analogue as template. Photoisomerization of the 3D crosslinked polymer matrix allowed switching the substrate affinity by altering the geometry and spatial arrangement of the receptor binding sites. As a result, controlled release and uptake of the template (or analogous ligands) were obtained.