Optimization of S-naproxen imprinted polymers: the combination of theoretical and experimental study

The interactions between template and functional monomers of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) were studied by ultraviolet and infrared spectral analysis and computer simulation, with S-naproxen as template molecule and methacrylic acid (MAA), acrylamide (AM) and 4-vinyl pyridine (4-VP) as functional monomers, respectively. Then, the S-naproxen imprinted polymers made from three functional monomers were prepared, respectively, and the binding parameters and chiral separation performance of the synthesized MIPs were investigated by Scatchard analysis and thin layer chromatography using MIPs as chiral stationary phase. The results showed that the MIP based on 4-VP possessed the highest imprinting effect while the MIP based on MAA was the lowest, which correlated positively with the interaction strength between template molecule and three monomers. The results of theoretical and experimental studies of S-naproxen imprinted polymers suggested that using spectral analysis and computer aided prediction could promote the synthetic strategy for researching more efficient MIPs.