Aim of this work was the production of imprinted membranes capable of selectively recognize theophylline (THEO) in an aqueous environment evolving from flat sheet to novel THEO-imprinted hollow fibers. For this purpose, a theophylline-imprinted polymer (MIP) was synthesized and dispersed in a poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK-WC) matrix for preparing asymmetric membranes via the phase inversion technique. The polymeric synthesis was performed using the bulk polymerization method in the presence of THEO. Methacrylic acid was the functional monomer, while ethylene glycol dimethacrylate and 2,2-azoisobutironitrile were the cross-linker and the initiator, respectively. Rebinding studies with the MIP permitted to assess its specific recognition properties toward the template. In sodium phosphate buffer (PBS) 0.1 M, the maximum imprinting effect was observed at an initial THEO concentration of 2⸱10−4 mol/L and at pH 7.0. Flat sheet membranes were prepared varying the polymer content (5 wt%, 9 wt% and 18 wt%) with respect to the PEEK-WC matrix, while hollow fiber membranes were prepared at the 5 wt% of MIP or non-imprinted polymer (NIP) content. All the imprinted membranes exhibited specific recognition properties toward the template. With mix solutions of structurally related xanthines (theophylline/caffeine) flat sheet membranes with the lowest MIP content (5 wt%) showed a binding capacity of 2.80 μmol/gm, while those with the 18 wt% of MIP showed a binding capacity of 6.14 μmol/gm. Their theophylline/caffeine selective binding factor (αTHEO/CAFF) were 3.18 and 5.96, respectively. The imprinted hollow fibers exhibited a binding capacity of 3.28 μmol/gm and an αTHEO/CAFF value of 3.64.
Evolving from flat sheet to novel hollow fiber imprinted membranes for theophylline recognition in aqueous media
Parisi O. I.;Dattilo M.;Puoci F.;
2026-01-01
Abstract
Aim of this work was the production of imprinted membranes capable of selectively recognize theophylline (THEO) in an aqueous environment evolving from flat sheet to novel THEO-imprinted hollow fibers. For this purpose, a theophylline-imprinted polymer (MIP) was synthesized and dispersed in a poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK-WC) matrix for preparing asymmetric membranes via the phase inversion technique. The polymeric synthesis was performed using the bulk polymerization method in the presence of THEO. Methacrylic acid was the functional monomer, while ethylene glycol dimethacrylate and 2,2-azoisobutironitrile were the cross-linker and the initiator, respectively. Rebinding studies with the MIP permitted to assess its specific recognition properties toward the template. In sodium phosphate buffer (PBS) 0.1 M, the maximum imprinting effect was observed at an initial THEO concentration of 2⸱10−4 mol/L and at pH 7.0. Flat sheet membranes were prepared varying the polymer content (5 wt%, 9 wt% and 18 wt%) with respect to the PEEK-WC matrix, while hollow fiber membranes were prepared at the 5 wt% of MIP or non-imprinted polymer (NIP) content. All the imprinted membranes exhibited specific recognition properties toward the template. With mix solutions of structurally related xanthines (theophylline/caffeine) flat sheet membranes with the lowest MIP content (5 wt%) showed a binding capacity of 2.80 μmol/gm, while those with the 18 wt% of MIP showed a binding capacity of 6.14 μmol/gm. Their theophylline/caffeine selective binding factor (αTHEO/CAFF) were 3.18 and 5.96, respectively. The imprinted hollow fibers exhibited a binding capacity of 3.28 μmol/gm and an αTHEO/CAFF value of 3.64.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
