Abstract:
A molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) was formed using an inorganic polymer by a sol-gel process. The monomers which were used to synthesize the inorganic polymer were tetraethoxysilane (TEOS), triethoxymethylsilane (MTES), and triethoxyphenylsilane (PTES). Caffeine was chosen as a template for the molecular imprinting, and theophylline was chosen as the analogous counterpart compound. The discriminating ability of the synthesized MIP to these two- compounds was estimated in this study. The MIP showed the highest discriminating ability when the ratio of TEOS:MTES: PTES in the synthesis of the inorganic polymer was 1:1:3, the reaction temperature was 50°C, and the pH of the reaction system was ~6.5.
Template and target information: caffeine
Author keywords: molecularly imprinted polymer, sol-gel process, caffeine, theophylline