[nanoPost] Intelligent polymers

The polymer is imprinted with a template compound that is closely related or identical to the target compound(s). The imprinting takes place when the monomers are polymerized in the presence of the template, with a certain degree of cross-linking. After the removal of the template, binding sites are left behind in the polymer that is complementary to the template in terms of shape and functionality. The cross-linking assures the long-term stability of the binding sites, and the global stability of the material. The polymer itself can be synthesized in the form of nanoparticles, nanofibres, thin surface coatings, nanostructured surfaces, etc.

A possible application of these materials is the specific recognition and binding, and possibly followed by the controlled release, of certain molecules. The specific binding feature can be taken advantage of when the polymer is used as the artificial recognition element in sensors. Thereby the stability of the material will be an additional plus. Several sensor elements can be combined in multi-sensor arrays that can measure a range of substances in the liquid and gas phases (electronic nose, electronic tongue).

Alternatively, the strong affinity of the polymer to its target compound can be taken advantage of in applications aiming at the controlled release of active compounds. Due to the stability of the material, it can be re-loaded and re-used many times without loss of its molecular memory.