ARS | Publication request: Molecularly Imprinted Polymers for Mycotoxins

Submitted to: American Chemical Society National Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract
Publication Acceptance Date: April 26, 2006
Publication Date: September 14, 2006
Citation: Appell, M.D., Maragos, C.M., Kendra, D.F. 2006. Molecularly imprinted polymers for mycotoxins [abstract]. American Chemical Society National Meeting.

Technical Abstract: Methods of detection and quantification of mycotoxins can be further improved through the development of more adaptable materials for selective recognition of these toxins. A synthetic approach for advanced selective binding materials is molecular imprinted polymers. In general these imprinted materials are more stable and possess activities under conditions unfavorable to natural receptors. Typically, molecularly imprinted polymers are imprinted with their substrate, however, the toxicity and expense of mycotoxins creates major barriers for real utilization of a mycotoxin-imprinted polymer. Our research is focused on the use of toxin analogs as templates to imprint these polymers. In addition, imprinting with toxin analogs brings an additional feature for optimization of the polymer activities. Structure-activity relationships between templates and the activities of polymers to bind the mycotoxins zearalenone and moniliformin will be discussed. We have found that the choice of template has a significant effect on the binding activities of the resulting imprinted polymers and this effect is dependent on the composition of the polymers as well as the method of evaluation.