Preparation of surface-imprinted microspheres effectively controlled by orientated template immobilization using highly cross-linked raspberry-like microspheres for the selective recognition of an immunostimulating peptide.

Surface-imprinted microspheres were controllably synthesized using ionic liquid-functionalized microspheres with a highly cross-linked raspberry-like structure as the matrix via surface molecular self-assembly and precipitation polymerization in aqueous media at room temperature. An immunostimulating hexapeptide from human (IHH) with medical properties was chosen as a template molecule in the preparation of different molecularly imprinted microspheres (MIMs). The experiment process was tracked and the as-prepared microspheres were well characterized. Results reveal that the adsorption capacity and selective recognition of MIMs have a direct relationship with the properties of the functional chain of the ionic liquid-functionalized microspheres. Moreover, MIMs that have both high adsorption capacity and good selective recognition were used in competitive rebinding tests and analysis of urine samples, which demonstrated their potential use for IHH enrichment and in real samples.

Water-compatible surface-imprinted microspheres for high adsorption and selective recognition of peptide drug from aqueous media.

Novel water-compatible ionic liquid-functionalized microspheres with molecularly imprinted shell layer were controllably synthesized via precipitation polymerization and surface imprinting technique. Here, a room-temperature ionic liquid was synthesized to prepare these surface-imprinted microspheres with excellent water solubility and multiple binding sites with template molecules. The peptide drug thymopentin (TP5) was chosen as a template molecule, which is known as an immunomodulating agent. The as-prepared microspheres were fully characterized. Results reveal that ionic liquid incorporation significantly improves the adsorption of TP5. Moreover, the adsorption property and recognition capability towards TP5 are closely related to the synergetic effect of electrostatic interaction and hydrogen bonding. Through employing the synergetic effect of directional and non-directional interactions, the surface-imprinted microspheres exhibit high adsorption capacity, good selective recognition, and rapid binding ability for TP5. The surface-imprinted microspheres demonstrate potential usage for TP5 enrichment from other biomolecules, and the proposed method was successfully applied for TP5 determination in thymopentin injection and urine.