Preparation and characterization of molecularly imprinted uniform-sized Poly(4VP-co-EGDMA) microgels

Molecularly imprinted uniform-sized poly(4VP-co-EGDMA) microgels were prepared from 4-vinyl pyridine (4VP) monomer and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as crosslinking agent using monodisperse linear polystyrene seed particles by multi-step swelling polymerization method. The polymerization conditions were chosen in such a way that the formation of solution complexes between 4VP and the template (N-protected amino acid) prior to polymerization would be favored. The effects of polymerization parameters such as weight ratio of the monomer/seed and diluent/monomer, the concentration of crosslinking agent on the average particle size and pore size distribution were investigated. The molecularly imprinted polymer microgels were utilized as a stationary phase in HPLC. In the chromatographic mode, resolution of the enantiomers of Cbz-L,D-aspartic acid (Cbz: carbobenzoxy) were resolved with the imprinted polymer.