Molecularly Imprinted Hydrogels from Colloidal Crystals for the Detection of Progesterone

NATALIA CASÍS; CARLOS BUSATTO; SERGE RAVAINE; MARIA MARTA FIDALGO DE CORTALEZZI; DIANA ESTENOZ

Buenos Aires

Simposio; X Simposio Argentino de Polímeros, SAP 2013; 2013

Univ. Nac. de Buenos Aires

The synthesis of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) from crystal colloidals is investigated. The novel procedure combines the non-covalent imprinting method with the colloidal crystal template technique to produce membranes with pre-specified morphology able to selectively recognize progesterone. The colloidal crystals based on silica particles were obtained by Langmuir-Blodgett and self-assembly techniques, and exhibited a considerable control of the morphology. Hydrogel films were prepared by copolymerization of acrylic acid and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate using 2,2´-azobisisobutyronitrile as initiator and in the presence of progesterone. The polymerization took place in the interspaces of the colloidal crystal and after the reaction the silica particles were etched with hydrofluoric acid to produce a 3D-ordered structure and the progesterone was removed using acetic acid. The nanocavities derived from progesterone, were distributed within the internal structure of the films. The equilibrium swelling properties of the MIPs were studied as a function of crosslinking degree and pH. The pore morphology of the film was analyzed by SEM. The MIPs characterizations included Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and evaluation of sensing properties and selectivity.