Unlocking New Avenues: Solid-State Synthesis of Molecularly Imprinted Polymers.

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are established artificial molecular recognition platforms with tailored selectivity towards a target molecule, whose synthesis and functionality are highly influenced by the nature of the solvent employed in their synthesis. Steps towards the "greenification" of molecular imprinting technology (MIT) has already been initiated by the elaboration of green MIT principles; developing MIPs in a solvent-free environment may not only offer an eco-friendly alternative, but could also significantly influence the affinity and expected selectivity of the resulting binding sites. In the current study the first solvent-free mechanochemical synthesis of MIPs via liquid-assisted grinding (LAG) is reported. The successful synthesis of the imprinted polymer was functionally demonstrated by measuring its template rebinding capacity and the selectivity of the molecular recognition process in comparison with the ones obtained by the conventional, non-covalent molecular imprinting process in liquid media. The results demonstrated similar binding capacities towards the template molecule and superior chemoselectivity compared to the solution-based MIP synthesis method. The adoption of green chemistry principles with all their inherent advantages in the synthesis of MIPs may not only be able to alleviate the potential environmental and health concerns associated with their analytical (e.g., selective adsorbents) and biomedical (e.g., drug carriers or reservoirs) applications, but might also offer a conceptual change in molecular imprinting technology.

Organizing Pneumonia: A Clinical Challenge in a Child With Previous Rhabdomyosarcoma.

Organizing pneumonia is a pulmonary disease of undefined etiology, with few reported cases in children. It may be secondary to chemotherapy, radiation therapy, infectious agents, or hematopoietic cell transplantation. We present a case of an 18-year-old boy who presented to a follow-up consult with respiratory symptoms at the age of 11 years, 8 years after finishing treatment for a prostatic relapse of a pelvic rhabdomyosarcoma. Chest radiography revealed nodular opacities in the left lung, the one in the left lower lobe with silhouette sign with the left hemidiaphragm. Chest computerized tomography showed 2 nodular lesions in the left upper lobe, one of them cavitated, and another nodular lesion in the left lower lobe; 2 of these nodules had surrounding ground-glass opacities. Microbiological work-up, including tuberculosis screening, was negative. Biopsy revealed findings suggestive of organizing pneumonia. He presented spontaneous resolution. This case presented a diagnostic challenge due to rarity of this condition and its indetermined association with the patient's history of rhabdomyosarcoma. With this case, the authors alert that organizing pneumonia must be considered in patients presenting with pulmonary lesions with a history of previous hematopoietic stem cell transplants, lung irradiation, or immunosuppression. Pulmonary metastases and secondary tumors must be considered as a differential diagnosis in patients with a heavily treated relapsed rhabdomyosarcoma.