Molecularly imprinted nanopatterns for the recognition of biological warfare agent ricin

Molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) for biological warfare agent (BWA) ricin was synthesized using silanes in order to avoid harsh environments during the synthesis of MIP. The synthesized MIP was utilized for the recognition of ricin. The complete removal of ricin from polymer was confirmed by fluorescence spectrometer and SEM–EDAX. SEM and EDAX studies confirmed the attachment of silane polymer on the surface of silica gel matrix. SEM image of Ricin-MIP exhibited nanopatterns and it was found to be entirely different from the SEM image of non-imprinted polymer (NIP). BET surface area analysis revealed more surface area (227 m²/g) for Ricin-MIP than that of NIP (143 m²/g). In addition, surface area study also showed more pore volume (0.5010 cm³/g) for Ricin-MIP than that of NIP (0.2828 cm³/g) at 12 nm pore diameter confirming the presence of imprinted sites for ricin as the reported diameter of ricin is 12 nm. The recognition and rebinding ability of the Ricin-MIP was tested in aqueous solution. Ricin-MIP rebound more ricin when compared to the NIP. Chromatogram obtained with Ricin-MIP exhibited two peaks due to imprinting, however, chromatogram of NIP exhibited only one peak for free ricin. SDS-PAGE result confirmed the second peak observed in chromatogram of Ricin-MIP as ricin peak. Ricin-MIP exhibited an imprinting efficiency of 1.76 and it also showed 10% interference from the structurally similar protein abrin.     

Molecularly imprinted polymers—A closer look at the control polymer used in determining the imprinting effect: A mini review

Molecular recognition displayed by naturally occurring receptors has continued to inspire new innovations aimed at developing systems that can mimic this natural phenomenon. Since 1930s, a technology called molecular imprinting for producing biomimetic receptors has been in place. In this technology, tailor made binding sites that selectively bind a given target analyte (also called template) are incorporated in a polymer matrix by polymerizing functional monomers and cross‐linking monomers around a target analyte followed by removal of the analyte to leave behind cavities specific to the analyte. The success of the imprinting process is defined by two main figures of merit, that is, the imprinting factor, and selectivity, which are determined by comparing the amount of target analyte or structural analogue bound by the molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) and the nonimprinted polymer (NIP). NIP is a control synthesized alongside the MIP but in the absence of the template. However, questions arise on whether these figures of merit are reliable measures of the imprinting effect because of the significant differences between the MIP and the NIP in terms of their physical and chemical characteristics. Therefore, this review critically looks into this subject, with a view of defining the best approaches for determining the imprinting effect.     

Composite of CdTe quantum dots and molecularly imprinted polymer as a sensing material for cytochrome c

A newly designed molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) material was fabricated and successfully utilized as recognition element to develop a quantum dots (QDs) based MIP-coated composite for selective recognition of the template cytochrome c (Cyt). The composites were synthesized by sol-gel reaction (imprinting process). The imprinting process resulted in an increased affinity of the composites toward the corresponding template. The fluorescence of MIP-coated QDs was stronger quenched by the template versus that of non-imprinted polymer (NIP)-coated QDs, which indicated the composites could recognize the corresponding template. The results of specific experiments further exhibited the recognition ability of the composites. Under optimum conditions, the linear range for Cyt is from 0.97 μM to 24 μM, and the detection limit is 0.41 μM. The new composites integrated the high selectivity of molecular imprinting technology and fluorescence property of QDs and could convert the specific interactions between imprinted cavities and corresponding template to the obvious changes of fluorescence signal. Therefore, a simple and selective sensing system for protein recognition has been realized.     

MOLECULARLY IMPRINTED POLYMERS FOR SOME REACTIVE DYES

Depending upon their structure, azo- and anthraquinonic dyes are the two major classes and together represent 90% of all organic colorants. Adsorption of dye molecules onto a sorbent can be an effective, low-cost method of color removal. Most of the techniques used for removal of dyes are of high production cost, and the regeneration also makes them uneconomical. There is much interest in the development of cheaper and effective newer materials for use as adsorbents. Molecular imprinting is a new kind of materials that can be alternative adsorbents. In this study, molecularly imprinted polymers of three textile dyes (Cibacron Orange P-4R, Cibacron Red P-4B, Cibacron Black PSG) were prepared. Methacrylic acid was used as a monomer for red and orange dyes and acrylamide was used for black dye. Methanol:acetonitrile was used as a porogen. The selective recognition ability of the molecularly imprinted polymers was studied by an equilibrium–adsorption batch method. The adsorption data are for Cibacron Black PSG 65% and nonimprinted polymer (NIP) 25%; Cibacron Red P-4B 72% and NIP 18%; and Cibacron Orange P-4R 45% and NIP 10%, respectively. Dye-imprinted polymers were used as a solid-phase extraction material for selective adsorption from wastewater of textile factory.     

Molecularly imprinted polymers for some reactive dyes

Depending upon their structure, azo- and anthraquinonic dyes are the two major classes and together represent 90% of all organic colorants. Adsorption of dye molecules onto a sorbent can be an effective, low-cost method of color removal. Most of the techniques used for removal of dyes are of high production cost, and the regeneration also makes them uneconomical. There is much interest in the development of cheaper and effective newer materials for use as adsorbents. Molecular imprinting is a new kind of materials that can be alternative adsorbents. In this study, molecularly imprinted polymers of three textile dyes (Cibacron Orange P-4R, Cibacron Red P-4B, Cibacron Black PSG) were prepared. Methacrylic acid was used as a monomer for red and orange dyes and acrylamide was used for black dye. Methanol:acetonitrile was used as a porogen. The selective recognition ability of the molecularly imprinted polymers was studied by an equilibrium-adsorption batch method. The adsorption data are for Cibacron Black PSG 65% and nonimprinted polymer (NIP) 25%; Cibacron Red P-4B 72% and NIP 18%; and Cibacron Orange P-4R 45% and NIP 10%, respectively. Dye-imprinted polymers were used as a solid-phase extraction material for selective adsorption from wastewater of textile factory.     

Design and synthesis of molecularly imprinted polypyrrole based on nanoreactor SBA-15 for recognition of ascorbic acid

Molecular imprinting is an attractive technique for preparing mimics of natural and biological receptors. Nevertheless, molecular imprinting for aqueous systems remains a challenge due to the hydrogen bonding between templates and functional monomers destroyed in the bulk water. The hydrogen bonding between templates and monomers are the most crucial factor governing recognition, particularly in non-covalent molecularly imprinted polymers. Using mesoporous materials for molecular imprinting is an effective approach to overcome this barrier and to remove the limitations of the traditional molecularly imprinted polymers which include incomplete template removal, small binding capacity, slow mass transfer, and irregular materials shape. Here, SBA-15 was used as a mesoporous silica material for synthesis of molecularly imprinted polypyrrole. The pyrrole monomers and template molecules were immobilized onto the SBA-15 hexagonal channels, and then polymerization occurred. The resulting nanocomposites were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) methods. In batch rebinding tests, the imprinted nanocomposites reached saturated adsorption within 100min and exhibited significant specific recognition toward the ascorbic acid (AA) with high adsorption capacity (83.7mgg(-1)). To further illustrate the recognition property of the imprinted nanocomposites, binary competitive and non-competitive adsorption experiments were performed with ascorbic acid, dopamine, paracetamol and epinephrine. The imprinting factors for these compounds in non-competitive adsorption experiments were 3.2, 1.5, 1.4 and 1.3, respectively. The results showed that the imprinted nanocomposites exhibited significant adsorption selectivity for the ascorbic acid against the related compounds.     

Experimental evaluation of imprinting and the role innate preference plays in habitat selection in a coral reef fish

When facing decisions about where to live, juveniles have a strong tendency to choose habitats similar to where their parents successfully bred. Developing larval fishes can imprint on the chemical cues from their natal habitat. However, to demonstrate that imprinting is ecologically important, it must be shown that settlers respond and distinguish among different imprinted cues, and use imprinting for decisions in natural environments. In addition, the potential role innate preferences play compared to imprinted choices also needs to be examined. As environmental variability increases due to anthropogenic causes these two recognition mechanisms, innate and imprinting, could provide conflicting information. Here we used laboratory rearing and chemical choice experiments to test imprinting in larval anemonefish (Amphiprion percula). Individuals exposed to a variety of benthic habitat or novel olfactory cues as larvae either developed a preference for (spent >50 % of their time in the cue) or increased their attraction to (increased preference but did not spend >50 % of their time in the cue) the cue when re-exposed as settlers. Results indicate not only the capacity for imprinting but also the ability to adjust innate preferences after early exposure to a chemical cue. To test ecological relevance in the natural system, recruits were collected from anemones and related to their parents, using genetic parentage analysis, providing information on the natal anemone species and the species chosen at settlement. Results demonstrated that recruits did not preferentially return to their natal species, conflicting with laboratory results indicating the importance imprinting might have in habitat recognition.     

Role of surface adsorption and porosity features in the molecular recognition ability of imprinted sol-gels

Organically modified molecularly imprinted silicas (MIS) for nafcillin recognition were prepared using a simple sol-gel procedure. Molecular recognition of the template was observed by tuning the chemical and structural properties of the MIS. The relative amounts of organically modified alkoxysilane precursors were found to be key in the textural and morphological characteristics of the MIS as well as for developing an imprinting effect in the materials. The recognition properties of the imprinted materials were found to be strongly influenced by the hydrolytic stability of the alkoxysilanes and their inductive effects during sol-gel hydrolysis/condensation stages. The concept was to combine properties of organic groups with those of glass-like materials in order to develop synergetic properties through variations in the composition. Results from batch rebinding experiments as well as from the thorough study of the N(2) adsorption properties and the textural and structural characteristics of the MIS revealed that an imprint effect could be attributed to the presence of the template during the synthesis of MIS.     

Separation and screening of compounds of biological origin using molecularly imprinted polymers

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) represent a new class of materials possessing high selectivity and affinity for the target molecule. Since their discovery in 1972, molecularly imprinted polymers have attracted considerable interest from bio- and chemical laboratories to pharmaceutical institutes. They have been utilized as sensors, catalysts, sorbents for solid-phase extraction, stationary phase for liquid chromatography, mimics of enzymes, receptors and antibodies. Among which, the application of molecularly imprinted polymers for molecular recognition-based separation and screening of compounds has undergone rapid extension and received much attention in recent years. This article mainly focuses on the separation and screening of certain pharmacophoric compounds of interests from biological origin using molecular imprinting technology. Examples of extraction and recognition of active components as anti-tumors or anti-Hepatitis C virus inhibitors from Chinese traditional herbs using molecularly imprinting technology are particularized in this article. Comparison between the screening effect based on MIPs and that based on antibodies is also represented. Consequently the merits and demerits of these two technologies are highlighted.     

A brief review of coarse-grained and other computational studies of molecularly imprinted polymers

Molecular imprinting is an established method for the creation of artificial recognition sites in synthetic materials through polymerization and cross-linking in the presence of template molecules. Removal of the templates leaves cavities that are complementary to the template molecules in size, shape, and functionality. In recent years, various theoretical and computational models have been developed as tools to aid in the design of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) or to provide insight into the features that determine MIP performance. These studies can be grouped into two general approaches-screening for possible functional monomers for particular templates and macromolecular models focusing on the structural characterization of the imprinted material. In this review, we pay special attention to coarse-grained models that characterize the functional heterogeneity in imprinted pores, but also cover recent advances in atomistic and first principle studies. We offer a critical assessment of the potential impact of the various models towards improving the state-of-the-art of molecular imprinting.     

Molecular imprinting in sol-gel matrix

Molecular imprinting is a newly developed methodology which provides molecular assemblies of desired structures and properties and is being increasingly used for several applications such as in separation processes, microreactors, immunoassays and antibody mimics, catalysis, artificial enzymes, biosensor recognition elements and bio- and chemo-sensors. The ambient processing conditions and versatility of the sol-gel process makes sol-gel glassy matrix suitable for molecular imprinting. The progress of sol-gel based molecular imprinted polymers (MIPs) for various applications can be seen from the growing number of publications. The main focus of the review is molecular imprinting in sol-gel matrix and applications of molecular imprinted sol-gel derived materials for the development of sensors. Combining sol-gel process with molecular imprinting enables to procure the sensors with greater sensitivity and selectivity necessary for sensing applications. The merits, problems, challenges and factors affecting molecular imprinting in sol-gel matrix have been discussed. Considerable attention has been drawn on recent developments like use of organically modified silane precursors (ORMOSILS) for the synthesis of hybrid molecular imprinted polymers (HMIPs) and applying surface sol-gel process for molecular imprinting. The development of molecular imprinted sol-gel nanotubes for biochemical separation and bio-imprinting is a new advancement and is under progress. Templated xerogels and molecularly imprinted sol-gel films provide a good platform for various sensor applications.     

Some new developments and challenges in non-covalent molecular imprinting technology

The technique of molecular imprinting allows the formation of specific recognition and catalytic sites in macromolecules via the use of templates. Molecularly imprinted polymers have been applied in an increasing number of applications where molecular binding events are of interest. These include the use of molecularly imprinted polymers as tailor-made separation materials, antibody and receptor binding site mimics in recognition and assay systems, enzyme mimics for catalytic applications and as recognition elements in biosensors. The stability and low cost of molecularly imprinted polymers make them advantageous for use in analysis as well as in industrial-scale production and application.     

Molecular imprinting technology: challenges and prospects for the future

Molecular imprinting is a technique for the fabrication of biomimetic polymeric recognition sites or “plastic antibodies/receptors” which is attracting rapidly increasing interest. By this technology, recognition matrices can be prepared which possess high substrate selectivity and specificity. In the development of this technology, several applications have been foreseen in which imprinted materials may be exchanged for natural recognition elements. Thus, molecularly imprinted polymers have been used as antibody/receptor binding mimics in immunoassay-type analyses, as enzyme mimics in catalytic applications and as recognition matrices in biosensors. The best developed application area for imprinted materials, though, has been as stationary phases for chromatography, in general, and chiral chromatography, in particular. This review seeks to highlight some of the more intriguing advantages of the technique as well as pointing out some of the difficulties encountered. The prospects for future development will also be considered. Chirality 10:195–209, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Functional mapping imprinted quantitative trait loci underlying developmental characteristics

Background

Genomic imprinting, a phenomenon referring to nonequivalent expression of alleles depending on their parental origins, has been widely observed in nature. It has been shown recently that the epigenetic modification of an imprinted gene can be detected through a genetic mapping approach. Such an approach is developed based on traditional quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping focusing on single trait analysis. Recent studies have shown that most imprinted genes in mammals play an important role in controlling embryonic growth and post-natal development. For a developmental character such as growth, current approach is less efficient in dissecting the dynamic genetic effect of imprinted genes during individual ontology.

Results

Functional mapping has been emerging as a powerful framework for mapping quantitative trait loci underlying complex traits showing developmental characteristics. To understand the genetic architecture of dynamic imprinted traits, we propose a mapping strategy by integrating the functional mapping approach with genomic imprinting. We demonstrate the approach through mapping imprinted QTL controlling growth trajectories in an inbred F₂ population. The statistical behavior of the approach is shown through simulation studies, in which the parameters can be estimated with reasonable precision under different simulation scenarios. The utility of the approach is illustrated through real data analysis in an F₂ family derived from LG/J and SM/J mouse stains. Three maternally imprinted QTLs are identified as regulating the growth trajectory of mouse body weight.

Conclusion

The functional iQTL mapping approach developed here provides a quantitative and testable framework for assessing the interplay between imprinted genes and a developmental process, and will have important implications for elucidating the genetic architecture of imprinted traits.     

Surface imprinted beads for the recognition of human serum albumin

The synthesis of poly-aminophenylboronic acid (ABPA) imprinted beads for the recognition of the protein human serum albumin (HSA) is reported. In order to create homogeneous recognition sites, covalent immobilisation of the template HSA was exploited. The resulting imprinted beads were selective for HSA. The indirect imprinting factor (IF) calculated from supernatant was 1.6 and the direct IF, evaluated from the protein recovered from the beads, was 1.9. The binding capacity was 1.4 mg/g, which is comparable to commercially available affinity materials. The specificity of the HSA recognition was evaluated with competitive experiments, indicating a molar ratio 4.5/1 of competitor was necessary to displace half of the bound HSA. The recognition and binding of the imprinted beads was also tested with a complex sample, human serum and targeted removal of HSA without a loss of the other protein components was demonstrated. The easy preparation protocol of derivatised beads and a good protein recognition properties make the approach an attractive solution to analytical and bio-analytical problems in the field of biotechnology.     

Novel biphasic separations utilising highly selective molecularly imprinted polymers as biorecognition solvent extraction agents

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) represent a class of artificial receptors that promise an environmentally robust alternative to naturally occurring biorecognition elements of biosensing devices and systems. However, in general, the performance of conventional MIPs in aqueous environments is poor. In the study reported here, this limitation has been addressed by the novel application of MIPs as a solvent extraction solid phase in a biphasic solvent system. This paper describes a previously unreported use of MIPs as solvent extraction reagents, their successful application to aqueous sample media and the opportunities for utilisation of this unique system in novel biosensing and separation procedures. This study demonstrates the development of a novel biphasic solvent system utilising MIP in the extracting phase to enhance both efficiency and selectivity of a simple two phase liquid extraction. Monodisperse propranolol imprinted polymer microspheres [p(divinylbenzene-co-methacrylic acid)] were prepared by precipitation polymerisation. Initially, the affinity of the polymers for (R,S)-propranolol was assessed by established techniques whereby the MIP demonstrated greater affinity for the template than did the non-imprinted control polymer (NIP). Importantly, MIP performance was also assessed using the novel dual solvent system. The depletion of (R,S)-propranolol from the aqueous phase into the polymer containing organic phase was determined. When compared to control extractions containing no polymer the presence of MIP in the extracting solvent phase resulted in an increased extraction of (R,S)-propranolol from the aqueous phase. Importantly, this extraction was significantly greater in the presence of MIP when compared to NIP. This unique principle generates opportunities for MIP based extractions and chemical enrichments in industrial applications, offering commercial, ecological and practical advantages to traditional solvent extraction techniques. The technique is readily transferable to analytical microsystems utilising MIP recognition elements generating promising opportunities for MIP based sensing of aqueous sample media.     

Comparative analysis of sequence characteristics of imprinted genes in human, mouse, and cattle

Genomic imprinting is an epigenetic mechanism that results in monoallelic expression of genes depending on parent-of-origin of the allele. Although the conservation of genomic imprinting among mammalian species has been widely reported for many genes, there is accumulating evidence that some genes escape this conservation. Most known imprinted genes have been identified in the mouse and human, with few imprinted genes reported in cattle. Comparative analysis of genomic imprinting across mammalian species would provide a powerful tool for elucidating the mechanisms regulating the unique expression of imprinted genes. In this study we analyzed the imprinting of 22 genes in human, mouse, and cattle and found that in only 11 was imprinting conserved across the three species. In addition, we analyzed the occurrence of the sequence elements CpG islands, C + G content, tandem repeats, and retrotransposable elements in imprinted and in nonimprinted (control) cattle genes. We found that imprinted genes have a higher G + C content and more CpG islands and tandem repeats. Short interspersed nuclear elements (SINEs) were notably fewer in number in imprinted cattle genes compared to control genes, which is in agreement with previous reports for human and mouse imprinted regions. Long interspersed nuclear elements (LINEs) and long terminal repeats (LTRs) were found to be significantly underrepresented in imprinted genes compared to control genes, contrary to reports on human and mouse. Of considerable significance was the finding of highly conserved tandem repeats in nine of the genes imprinted in all three species. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi: ) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Cross-talk of polyamines and nitric oxide in endophytic fungus-induced betulin production in Betula platyphylla plantlets

Key message

This paper showed that NO, PAs, PA-induced NO, and NO-induced PAs mediate fungus-induced betulin accumulation in birch plantlets.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between nitric oxide (NO) and polyamines (PAs) and to determine their roles in betulin accumulation induced by the endophytic fungus Phomopsis in Betula platyphylla. Treatment of birch plantlets with the endophytic fungus Phomopsis promoted an NO burst and accumulation of PAs and betulin. Birch plantlets were treated with the NO-specific scavenger 2-(4-carboxyphenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide potassium salt (cPTIO) and the PA synthesis inhibitor d-arginine (d-arg). cPTIO and d-arg inhibited the fungus-induced NO burst and accumulation of PAs and betulin. The exogenous NO donor sodium nitroprusside promoted PA production and betulin accumulation, whereas an exogenous PA, putrescine, promoted an NO burst and betulin accumulation. In addition, d-arg inhibited NO production and cPTIO decreased PA production during fungus-induced betulin accumulation. Our results indicate that NO, PAs, PA-induced NO, and NO-induced PAs mediate fungus-induced betulin accumulation in birch plantlets.     

Bayesian inference for genomic imprinting underlying developmental characteristics

The identification of imprinted genes is becoming a standard procedure in searching for quantitative trait loci (QTL) underlying complex traits. When a developmental characteristic such as growth or drug response is observed at multiple time points, understanding the dynamics of gene function governing the underlying feature should provide more biological information regarding the genetic control of an organism. Recognizing that differential imprinting can be development-specific, mapping imprinted genes considering the dynamic imprinting effect can provide additional biological insights into the epigenetic control of a complex trait. In this study, we proposed a Bayesian imprinted QTL (iQTL) mapping framework considering the dynamics of imprinting effects and model multiple iQTLs with an efficient Bayesian model selection procedure. The method overcomes the limitation of likelihood-based mapping procedure, and can simultaneously identify multiple iQTLs with different gene action modes across the whole genome with high computational efficiency. An inference procedure using Bayes factors to distinguish different imprinting patterns of iQTL was proposed. Monte Carlo simulations were conducted to evaluate the performance of the method. The utility of the approach was illustrated through an analysis of a body weight growth data set in an F(2) family derived from LG/J and SM/J mouse stains. The proposed Bayesian mapping method provides an efficient and computationally feasible framework for genome-wide multiple iQTL inference with complex developmental traits.     

Molecular imprinting in monolayer surfaces

A comprehensive report on molecularly imprinted monolayers (MIMs) is presented, but does not include bulk-polymer thin film coatings on surfaces, inorganic surface imprinting, polymer grafting and layer-by-layer methods. Due to difficulties in imprinting large molecules and obtaining fast binding responses with traditional network polymer materials, MIMs have been developed with the aim of enhancing mass-transfer of analytes in imprinted materials. Three approaches to MIM fabrication have been developed with respect to the formation of the pre-organized template-matrix complex. In the first approach, the molecular binding sites are formed in a monolayer on a glass or gold surface. The second approach uses a template-macromolecule complex to form binding sites in the solution phase that are immobilized onto a surface; and the third approach transfers an imprinted Langmuir film onto a gold surface. Mass transfer in these MIMs in most cases is on the order of minutes, and both small and large molecules (proteins) have been imprinted.