Molecularly imprinted polyacrylic acid containing multiple recognition sites for steroids

The preparation and evaluation of a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) based on acrylic acid and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate containing multiple recognition sites for steroids is discussed. The ability of the polymer to bind simultaneously three steroids, namely cholesterol, testosterone, and hydrocortisone, is demonstrated. These types of novel MIPS with multiple binding sites could be useful in the design of sensing elements capable of detecting more components at a time. Such polymers could also be used as stationary phases in chromatography with broad separation potential as well as sorbents in solid-phase extraction. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.