Thesis

Molecularly imprinted polymers : rational design, controlled synthesis and novel applications

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Awarding institution
  • University of Strathclyde
Date of award
  • 2011
Thesis identifier
  • T12882
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Abstract
  • Molecular imprinting, a technique for the preparation of polymeric materials that are capable of molecular recognition in various applications, is developing rapidly. In this study, work was directed towards the synthesis of novel molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) that enable high performance separations in analytical science and other fields. Furthermore, a new method of MIP synthesis, using controlled radical polymerisation, was explored, and a computational modelling method evaluated which enables the prediction of binding isotherms of MIPs in a qualitative manner prior to synthesis. The synthesis of ketamine imprinted polymers via a conventional approach is described. The overall aim of this study was to develop a new analytical method, Molecularly Imprinted Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (MILC-MS/MS) for the detection of ketamine in hair. A key requirement was the production of ketamine imprinted polymer particulates in an appropriate physical format for the direct packing of the imprinted materials into chromatography columns, which were then hyphenated to a mass spectrometer. Several polymers were synthesised and their molecular recognition properties characterised using liquid chromatography techniques. A new analytical method for ketamine was set in place. iii The utility of controlled radical polymerisation in the preparation of MIPs was explored. The controlled radical polymerisation method of choice was reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT). The synthesis and use of a RAFT agent (CPDB) in MIP syntheses is described. It was discovered that polymers prepared via RAFT polymerisations enhanced the chromatographic performance of MIPs. Through a collaborative research study, an aim was to develop and evaluate a computational model for MIPs which predicted, in silico, the qualitative binding isotherms of a MIP. Real imprinted polymers were synthesised and their binding isotherms measured in order to test the validity of the predictive model. Pyridine imprinted and non-imprinted polymers were synthesised in monolithic form. There was good agreement between the predicted and experimental binding data.
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DOI
Date Created
  • 2011
Former identifier
  • 833281

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