Computer simulation aided preparation of molecularly imprinted polymers for separation of bilobalide

Molecularly imprinted polymers-ZnS quantum dots based composite sensor for optical detection of chlorogenic acid

Chlorogenic acid (CGA), a key phenolic acid found in coffee, fruits, vegetables, and herbs, has significant pharmacological activities, necessitating its accurate detection in complex matrices. In this study, an organic acrylate molecularly imprinted polymers-chitosan modified zinc sulphide quantum dots/polydopamine (MIPs-CS:ZnS QDs/PDA) based composite sensor for the detection of CGA has been designed. In MIPs shell, CGA served as template and 4-vinylpyridine and methacrylic acid as functional monomers, azobisisobutyronitrile acting as the initiator and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as the cross-linker. Chitosan was incorporated to enhance the stability of ZnS QDs, while polydopamine was introduced during polymerization to improve adhesion and the selectivity of MIPs for CGA. Under ideal conditions, the composite sensor had shown a linear range of 0.02-11 μg/mL with detection limit of 8.9 × 10-3 μg/mL. The composite sensor showed imprinting factor of 6.3, and response time of 12 min. The sensor demonstrated good selectivity towards CGA, in the presence of interfering agents. Composite sensor was successfully applied to detect CGA in plant extracts, coffee and fruit juices, with recovery ranges from 88.93 to 98.49 %. The MIPs-CS:ZnS QDs/PDA composite sensor offers a simple and robust approach for CGA detection in real samples without requiring pre-treatment.

Incorporation of polymerizable linkers into aptamers for high-affinity nanoscale molecularly imprinted polymer hybrids: analysis of positional selectivity

Aptamers are short single strand nucleic acid sequences that exhibit high-affinity molecular recognition towards non nucleic acid targets. They offer many benefits over antibodies, but still suffer from variable affinities and stability issues. Recently, aptamers have been incorporated as functional recognition agents into molecularly imprinted polymers, a competing recognition technology, to create hybrid materials, AptaMIPs, that exhibit the benefits of both classes. Specifically, this process can increase target affinity while preventing aptamer degradation. For the first time, using a lysozyme aptamer as an exemplar, we have undertaken a systematic and fundamental study to identify the optimal number and location of polymer connection points on an aptameric sequence for boosting AptaMIP target affinity and selectivity creating high affinity recognition elements. Clear patterns have emerged showing "fixing" throughout the molecule is required, but only in particular regions of the sequence. The results suggest that conformationally flexible regions within the polymer-bound aptameric sequence are detrimental to strong target binding, supporting the hypothesis that a successful imprinting process must lock the aptamer into its ideal binding conformation to achieve observable marked improvement in recognition. Conversely, too much flexibility in the embedded oligo (demonstrated through limited binding points) leads to poor performance. These findings offer a clear direction for development of aptamer-polymer hybrids. We also demonstrate the effectiveness of the developed materials in sensitive detection of the template using surface plasmon resonance, through improved quality of the recognition element.

Glycan-specific molecularly imprinted polymers towards cancer diagnostics: merits, applications, and future perspectives

Aberrant glycans are a hallmark of cancer states. Notably, emerging evidence has demonstrated that the diagnosis of cancers with tumour-specific glycan patterns holds great potential to address unmet medical needs, especially in improving diagnostic sensitivity and selectivity. However, despite vast glycans having been identified as potent markers, glycan-based diagnostic methods remain largely limited in clinical practice. There are several reasons that prevent them from reaching the market, and the lack of anti-glycan antibodies is one of the most challenging hurdles. With the increasing need for accelerating the translational process, numerous efforts have been made to find antibody alternatives, such as lectins, boronic acids and aptamers. However, issues concerning affinity, selectivity, stability and versatility are yet to be fully addressed. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs), synthetic antibody mimics with tailored cavities for target molecules, hold the potential to revolutionize this dismal progress. MIPs can bind a wide range of glycan markers, even those without specific antibodies. This capacity effectively broadens the clinical applicability of glycan-based diagnostics. Additionally, glycoform-resolved diagnosis can also be achieved through customization of MIPs, allowing for more precise diagnostic applications. In this review, we intent to introduce the current status of glycans as potential biomarkers and critically evaluate the challenges that hinder the development of in vitro diagnostic assays, with a particular focus on glycan-specific recognition entities. Moreover, we highlight the key role of MIPs in this area and provide examples of their successful use. Finally, we conclude the review with the remaining challenges, future outlook, and emerging opportunities.

Inspirations of Biomimetic Affinity Ligands: A Review

Affinity chromatography is a well-known method dependent on molecular recognition and is used to purify biomolecules by mimicking the specific interactions between the biomolecules and their substrates. Enzyme substrates, cofactors, antigens, and inhibitors are generally utilized as bioligands in affinity chromatography. However, their cost, instability, and leakage problems are the main drawbacks of these bioligands. Biomimetic affinity ligands can recognize their target molecules with high selectivity. Their cost-effectiveness and chemical and biological stabilities make these antibody analogs favorable candidates for affinity chromatography applications. Biomimetics applies to nature and aims to develop nanodevices, processes, and nanomaterials. Today, biomimetics provides a design approach to the biomimetic affinity ligands with the aid of computational methods, rational design, and other approaches to meet the requirements of the bioligands and improve the downstream process. This review highlighted the recent trends in designing biomimetic affinity ligands and summarized their binding interactions with the target molecules with computational approaches.

The Use of Computational Methods for the Development of Molecularly Imprinted Polymers

Recent years have witnessed a dramatic increase in the use of theoretical and computational approaches in the study and development of molecular imprinting systems. These tools are being used to either improve understanding of the mechanisms underlying the function of molecular imprinting systems or for the design of new systems. Here, we present an overview of the literature describing the application of theoretical and computational techniques to the different stages of the molecular imprinting process (pre-polymerization mixture, polymerization process and ligand-molecularly imprinted polymer rebinding), along with an analysis of trends within and the current status of this aspect of the molecular imprinting field.

A Review on Molecularly Imprinted Polymers Preparation by Computational Simulation-Aided Methods

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are obtained by initiating the polymerization of functional monomers surrounding a template molecule in the presence of crosslinkers and porogens. The best adsorption performance can be achieved by optimizing the polymerization conditions, but this process is time consuming and labor-intensive. Theoretical calculation based on calculation simulations and intermolecular forces is an effective method to solve this problem because it is convenient, versatile, environmentally friendly, and inexpensive. In this article, computational simulation modeling methods are introduced, and the theoretical optimization methods of various molecular simulation calculation software for preparing molecularly imprinted polymers are proposed. The progress in research on and application of molecularly imprinted polymers prepared by computational simulations and computational software in the past two decades are reviewed. Computer molecular simulation methods, including molecular mechanics, molecular dynamics and quantum mechanics, are universally applicable for the MIP-based materials. Furthermore, the new role of computational simulation in the future development of molecular imprinting technology is explored.

Theoretical design and preparation research of molecularly imprinted polymers for steviol glycosides

In this paper, a novel molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) for specific adsorption of steviol glycosides was designed, and the imprinting mechanism of self-assembly system between template and monomers was clearly explored. Firstly, steviol (STE) was chosen as dummy template, and the density functional theory (DFT) at B3LYP/6-31 + G (d, p) level was used to select monomers, imprinting molar ratios, solvents, and cross-linking agents. The selectivity to five steviol glycosides was also calculated. Importantly, reduced density gradient (RDG) theory combined with atom in molecules (AIM) and infrared spectrum (IR) was applied to investigate the bonding situation and the nature of noncovalent interaction in self-assembly system. The theoretical designed results showed that the template which interacts with acrylic acid (AA) has the minimum binding energy, and the complex with the molar ratio of 1 : 4 has the most stable structure. Toluene (TL) and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) were chosen as the optimal solvent and cross-linking agent, respectively. Five hydrogen bonds formed in the self-assembly system are the key forces at the adsorption sites of MIPs through the RDG and AIM analyses. The MIPs were synthesized by theoretical predictions, and the results showed that the maximum adsorption capacity towards dulcoside A is 26.17 mg/g. This work provided a theoretical direction and experimental validation for deeper researches of the MIPs for steviol glycosides. In addition, the method of RDG theory coupled with AIM and IR also could be used to analyze other imprinting formation mechanisms systematically.