Synthesis and photoresponsive properties of a molecularly imprinted polymer.

A photoresponsive molecularly imprinted polymer was prepared from a di(ureidoethylenemethacrylate)azobenzene monomer, using a methotrexate analogue as template. Photoisomerization of the 3D crosslinked polymer matrix allowed switching the substrate affinity by altering the geometry and spatial arrangement of the receptor binding sites. As a result, controlled release and uptake of the template (or analogous ligands) were obtained.

Rational design of new polymerizable oxyanion receptors.

We report the synthesis of a library of new polymerizable functional monomers designed for complexing with the oxyanionic moiety of the chemotherapeutic drug methotrexate. The 1H NMR and ITC binding studies allowed for the selection of receptors possessing the best association parameters. Subsequently, the design of a broad library of polymerizable moiety-specific binding monomers for the imprinting of dicarboxylate containing drugs was accomplished.