Selective Adsorption of Proteins Using Molecularly Imprinted Polyaniline Films

Proteins play an import role in many different processes and functions within the body. Due to the large size and fragile nature of proteins, selective detection of proteins can be an expensive and labor-intensive process. The use of Molecularly Imprinted Polymers (MIPs) for selective detection of proteins is a highly attractive option, as MIPs can be synthesized with cavities that mimic the behaviors of antibodies and enzymes. In this work, we will introduce MIPs designed for the detection of proteins in 96-well plates. Aniline was chosen as the monomer for producing MIPs, as polyaniline films can be controllably made when mixed with ammonium persulfate. Binding between polymer and proteins occurs via hydrogen bonding within MIP cavities and allows for selective interactions with target proteins. By adjusting polymerization time and protein concentration we observed preferential adsorption of protein to the MIP. Experiments comparing the adsorption selectivity for different proteins was also done using the MIPs. With additional optimization, our polyaniline MIPs could be a simple and easy method for protein separation