A facile method for preparing molecularly imprinted polymer spheres using spherical silica templates

A novel and facile preparation method for spherical molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) beads is presented. Two types of beads were synthesized and investigated: (i) silica-MIP composites were obtained by filling spherical, porous C-4-coated silica beads with print molecule and monomers followed by polymerisation; (ii) spherical molecularly imprinted polymer beads were acquired mirroring the silica particles in size, shape and pore structure by removing the silica matrix from the silica-MIP composites. With regard to their chromatographic properties and yield of the materials both types of particle were more advantageous compared to irregularly shaped traditional MIPs. Also the work-up time to obtain imprinted spherical particles is greatly reduced compared to traditional methods using polymer monoliths, which have to be ground, sieved and sedimented. Generally, the described method may open new possibilities for synthesis of novel types of imprinted polymer formats such as membranes, bulk polymers, films or in-situ columns using appropriate support or sacrificial materials.