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The term biomimetic can be simply defined as the examination of nature. The scientists inspired by the enormous diversity of nature to solve human problems or facilitate daily life by mimicking natural models, systems, and elements especially in the biomedical and therapeutic applications to make better drugs, artificial organs, sensing instruments, etc. Biological recognition elements like proteins, antibodies, enzymes, DNA, lectins, aptamers, cells, and viruses have been heavily used to ensure specificity in such applications in spite of their lack of stability and reusability. However, in the last two decades molecularly imprinted polymers, MIPs, have been synthesized as an alternative to mimic natural biological interactions for a broad spectrum of templates by means of coordinating functional monomers around template in the presence of cross-linker. This review will outline the broad contours of biomimetics prepared by molecular imprinting techniques and their practical applications in the separation techniques, tissue engineering applications, biomimetic surfaces, sensors, artificial membranes, and drug delivery systems.

Molecularly imprinted cryogels for protein recognition have received much attention in recent years with the development of supermacroporous polymer systems. Molecularly imprinted cryogels, which o...

In the present study, the enantiomeric forms of hydrophobic amino acids ( l -tryptophan, l -tyrosine, and l -phenylalanine) were separated by molecularly imprinted capillary columns (MICC) via Capillary Electrochromatography (CEC) for the first time. The monomer ratio, crosslinker ratio, template molecule ratio, the porogen ratio and type, polymerization time, and also the effect of temperature were examined to increase the permeability properties of MICC. FTIR, SEM and BET analyses were realized for the characterization of MICC. The effect of the electric field, organic solvent ratio, and pressure were carried out experimentally to determine the optimum conditions. The separation performances of MICC and the non-imprinted capillary columns (NICC) were compared electrochromatographically.

Objective: The Internet is a widespread and increasingly used resource for obtaining medical information by both patients and public health care providers. Our aim in this study was to evaluate the accuracy and quality of the information in idiopathic ventricular arrhythmia (IVA) videos posted on YouTube. Materials and Methods: "Idiopathic Ventricular Dysrhythmia" or "Idiopathic Ventricular Arrhythmia" keywords of YouTube search engine were queried. 48 videos suitable for 2-15 minutes were included in the study. The popularity of videos was judged by an index called the video strength index (VPI). The reliability of the videos was assessed with the DISCERN score. The quality of the information resource measured using the Global Quality Score (GQS). Results: The average duration of the videos was 444 ± 220 seconds, and the average number of views is 11241 ± 865, with a median view count of 1085 (151-22012). The median VPI value of the videos was 4 (0-34), the mean DISCERN score was 3.1 ± 0.5, and the mean GQS score was 3.6 ± 1.1. Conclusion: YouTube serves as an easily accessible and inexpensive data center for patient education and understanding the illness. However, the popular YouTube videos on IVA administration appear to be largely lacking in accuracy, reliability, and consistency, as they are vulnerable to unreliable information.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women with increasing insidance. Breast cancer occurs as a result of some molecular changes, such as aberrant or dysregulated expression of receptors, in breast epithelial cells. Therefore, breast cancer cells can be detected through their membrane receptors using specific antibodies. This study aims to form a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) biosensor to detect breast cancer cells. Notch receptor signaling directs many pathways in developing breast tissue and its expression is found to be aberrant or disregulated in metastatic breast cancer cells. Its involvement in malignant transformation makes it a potential drug target. The human metastatic breast cancer cells, MDA MB 231 cells, are used here as a model due to the overexpression of notch-4 receptor on their membranes. First, to increase the surface area of the chip poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-PHEMA) nanoparticles were synthesized and were placed on QCM chip surface. Then, the surface was further modified and functionalized by binding notch-4 receptor antibody using carbodiimide. Nanoparticle coated and antibody attached QCM chips were characterized via FTIR-ATR, ellipsometry, contact angle measurements and by atomic force microscopy. MDA MB 231 cell samples ranging in numbers between 50-300 cells/ml were introduced to the functionalized QCM chip at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min and the resonance frequency (f0) was recorded. Then, cell samples were applied to the QCM biosensor and the resonance frequency was monitored. The binding mode fitted best to Langmuir isotherm model. Sensitivity is found to be high and the selectivity as tested by competitive adsorption of L929 mouse fibroblast cells showed that QCM biosensor was 17.5 times more selective for MDA MB 231 cells than the fibroblast cells. The chip was reusable and was stable over 3 months. These results indicate that, the notch-4 receptor antibody PHEMA nanoparticle QCM biosensor is highly selective and efficient system that may be used for cancer cell detection.

Quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) is a highly sensitive system that is used as a biosensor for biomolecules and cells. Detection and characterization of cancer cells in circulation or biopsy samples is of crucial importance for cancer diagnosis. Here, we introduce approaches for breast cancer cell detection via their surface molecules. The sensor system is based on preliminary coating of QCM chip with polymeric nanoparticles to increase the surface area and allow for the attachment of proteins to the chip surface. This is followed by the attachment of a specific protein in order to functionalize the chip. Breast cancer cells and fibroblast cells as control are cultured and applied to this chip. The functionalized QCM system can detect breast cancer cells with high affinity and selectivity. Here, we present the preparation methods of QCM-based sensors for selective detection of MDA MB 231 cancer cells. Selectivity of QCM-based sensor is carried out in the presence of L929 mouse fibroblast cells.

Quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) is a highly sensitive system that is used as a biosensor for biomolecules and cells. Detection and characterization of cancer cells in circulation or biopsy samples is of crucial importance for cancer diagnosis. Here, we introduce approaches for breast cancer cell detection via their surface molecules. The sensor system is based on preliminary coating of QCM chip with polymeric nanoparticles to increase the surface area and allow for the attachment of proteins to the chip surface. This is followed by the attachment of a specific protein in order to functionalize the chip. Breast cancer cells and fibroblast cells as control are cultured and applied to this chip. The functionalized QCM system can detect breast cancer cells with high affinity and selectivity. Here, we present the preparation methods of QCM-based sensors for selective detection of MDA MB 231 cancer cells. Selectivity of QCM-based sensor is carried out in the presence of L929 mouse fibroblast cells.

Nucleic acid aptamers are an emerging class of artificial ligands and have recently gained attention in several areas. Here we report the design of a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) aptasensor for highly sensitive and selective sensing of human activated protein C (APC). First, DNA aptamer (DNA-Apt) specific for APC is complexed with N-methacryloyl-L-cysteine (MAC) monomer. Then, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and cyanamide are mixed with the DNA-Apt/MAC complex. The SPR aptasensor is characterized by atomic force microscopy, ellipsometry, and contact angle measurements. Selectivity of SPR aptasensor is carried out in the presence of myoglobin (Myb), hemoglobin (Hb), and bovine serum albumin (BSA). Limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) values are 1.5 ng mL

Nucleic acid aptamers are an emerging class of artificial ligands and have recently gained attention in several areas. Here we report the design of a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) aptasensor for highly sensitive and selective sensing of human activated protein C (APC). First, DNA aptamer (DNA-Apt) specific for APC is complexed with N-methacryloyl-L-cysteine (MAC) monomer. Then, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and cyanamide are mixed with the DNA-Apt/MAC complex. The SPR aptasensor is characterized by atomic force microscopy, ellipsometry, and contact angle measurements. Selectivity of SPR aptasensor is carried out in the presence of myoglobin (Myb), hemoglobin (Hb), and bovine serum albumin (BSA). Limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) values are 1.5 ng mL?1 and 5.2 ng mL?1, respectively. DNA-Apt SPR aptasensor performance for APC detection is also examined in artificial plasma. © 2022, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.

The combination of magnetism and nanotechnology has presented promising materials: magnetic nanoparticles. These materials have been getting more attention due to their “size‐dependent functionality”. There is a critical size for nanoparticles that their properties change. Materials with various functions can be synthesized with the desired properties since a wide range of polymers including natural and synthetic polymers can be utilized in the production of the magnetic nanoparticles. Furthermore, they can be more selective and specific with the conjugation target-specific ligands. This structural and functional diversity enables these materials to be used in a wide range of areas. In this review, we discuss the main components of the magnetic nanoparticles and their examples in biomedical applications. They can be used as contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging; delivery systems in the controlled release of therapeutic agents; supporting materials for separation, isolation, and purification of biomolecules. They can be also functioned in hyperthermia and magnetofection for gene therapy. However, even though their increasing research interest, magnetic nanoparticles still need to be improved to be more popular in the commercial area. We hope that these functional materials will present promising possibilities in nanotechnology and biomedicine in near future.

In this study was prepared Cd(II)) ion-imprinted poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate-N-methacryloyl-(L)-cysteine methylester) pHEMAC nanoparticles for the oral treatment of heavy metal poisoning. Cd(II) ion-imprinted pHEMAC nanoparticles were characterized by TEM, FTIR, zetasizer, and surface area calculations. The efficiency and selectivity of these Cd(II) ion imprinted pHEMAC nanoparticles were investigated both in deionized water and simulated gastrointestinal fluids. Adsorption studies were performed at different pH, temperature and initial concentrations of Cd(II) ion to determine optimum conditions. The selectivity studies were accomplished with Cd(II) ion imprinted and non-imprinted pHEMAC nanoparticles by using different metal ion solutions (i.e., copper, zinc, nickel, and lead). Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms were applied for these adsorption studies

Allergy is a widespread disease effective 10%–20% of the general population all around the world. Allergies are chronic illnesses caused by the exposure of the respiratory system to dust or pollen, the skin to chemical materials, or the digestion system to particular foods. Immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibody plays a very important role in the development of allergies in humans. The high level of total IgE in human serum reflects the presence of allergic conditions. Test kits for commercially available serum IgE measurements are based on conventional immunoassay techniques. These techniques include time-consuming procedures, expensive instruments, and hazardous labels. Currently, molecularly imprinted polymer-based sensors are utilized as an alternative artificial receptor. MIP-based sensor systems for biological applications have been widely utilized in works on biomolecular interactions, with the change in sensor signals. Herein, the development of rapid, easy-to-use and cost-effective allergen detection methods based on mass sensitive, optic, electrochemical, and nanomaterials based sensors have been reported. Finally, we present sensor systems were investigated with a molecular imprinting technique for the detection of allergens as a marker of various allergies.

Environmental pollution by heavy metals is a global problem. The main sources of waste are industrial or domestic products and heavy metal–containing pesticides and fertilizers. Heavy metal contamination poses a serious danger to the human health and environment. Heavy metals are among the important environmental pollutants because of their toxic effects on plants, animals, and humans, even at very low concentrations. Moreover, they have non-biodegradable property and accumulation in the food chain. Currently available methods for determination of metal ion levels in water include chromatographic and spectroscopic methods. These chromatographic and spectroscopic methods are costly methods that require intense technical training because of their time-consuming and complicated procedures. The development of sensors for monitoring of toxic metals especially in water and environment is very important. The nano and functional material-based chemical sensors have been extensively employed for the detection of heavy metals. These sensors have advantages such as high selectivity, sensitivity, portability, on-site sensing capability, and improved performance of the devices. This chapter will outline the broad contours of heavy metals and the practical applications for their detection, with sensors, in the water and environment.

Food safety is a public health concern. Food contaminants could be metal ions, residues of pesticides, mycotoxins, drug residues, allergens, preservatives, and contaminants from food processing and packaging. The contamination hazards in the agricultural food chain include residues of agrochemicals and natural toxins. These chemical pollutants have serious effects on human health such as liver, kidney, and neurological syndromes even in the minimum limits. The food contamination with toxins and environmental pollutants occurs during the processing, packaging, preparing, storage, and transportation. Traditionally, food contaminants are detected by conventional analytical techniques. The other approach for detection of food contaminants is sensors. Sensors offer various advantages including simple use, high sensitivity and selectivity, user-friendly, on-site detection, rapid and low-cost operation. This chapter summarizes the different sensor applications in food contaminant detection and analysis.

Biosensor technology enabled the specific detection of diverse biomolecules including pathogenic microorganisms in a rapid, sensitive, easy, and cheap manner in recent years. Emerging technologies like nanotechnology, lab-on-a-chip microdevices, etc., lead further development to obtain biosensors with much better performance. The easy and on-site use of biosensors without the necessity of specific trained stuff made their commercialization easier. In this chapter, the commercial biosensors for the detection of most-common disease causing pathogens and the recent studies with some leading biosensor companies are summarized.

Herein, we prepared a novel quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) sensor for synthetic cannabinoids (JWH-073, JWH-073 butanoic acid, JWH-018 and JWH-018 pentanoic acid,) detection. Firstly, the synthetic cannabinoid (SCs) imprinted (MIP) and non-imprinted (NIP) nanoparticles were synthesized by mini-emulsion polymerization system. The SCs-imprinted nanoparticles were first characterized by SEM, TEM, zeta-size and FTIR-ATR analysis and then were dropped onto the gold QCM surface. The SCs-imprinted QCM sensor was characterized by an ellipsometer, contact angle, and AFM. The limit of detection was found as 0.3, 0.45, 0.4, 0.2 pg/mL JWH-018, JWH-073, JWH-018 pentanoic acid and JWH-073 butanoic acid, respectively. The selectivity of the SCs-imprinted QCM sensor was shown by using JWH-018, JWH-018 pentanoic acid, JWH-073 and JWH-073 butanoic acid. According to the results, the SCs-imprinted QCM sensors show highly selective and sensitive in a broad range of synthetic cannabinoid concentrations (0.0005–1.0 ng/mL) in both aqueous and synthetic urine solutions.

Profiling at GCs level is an important issue since it is a key factor to determine administration intent for either therapeutic or doping purpose. In this study, the sensing platform which is based on a combination of surface plasmon resonance system with molecularly imprinted nanoparticles was developed for monitoring of prednisolone level as a selected GCs analyte in plasma and urine. Fabricated sensing platform was utilized with ellipsometer and contact angle measurements followed by characterization of nanoparticles (NPs) by the means of structurally (i.e. FTIR and elemental analysis) and morphologically (i.e. TEM and Zeta-sizer analysis). The lowest limit of detection by PIN2 encoded molecularly imprinted nanoparticle was achieved as at 5.5 ppb and 8.9 ppb at pH 6.6 and 7.4, respectively. Competition kinetic assays were performed by using 17-α-ethynyl estradiol (EEST) and estradiol (EST). The reusability studies have been applied to the sensor with the best results and 92.8% recovery is achieved. Validation studies of the system were performed according to the standard procedure by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The method was successfully applied to monitor PRD levels in body fluids (urine and plasma) as a natural sample.

WOS: 000399567500002, PubMed: 28105892, In this study, cryogel-based implantable molecularly imprinted drug delivery systems were designed for the delivery of antineoplastic agent. Mitomycin C imprinted poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-N-methacryloyl-l-glutamic acid) cryogel membranes were produced by free-radical bulk polymerization under partially frozen conditions. The membranes were characterized by swelling tests, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, surface area measurements and in vitro hemocompatibility tests. In vitro delivery studies were carried out to examine the effects of cross-linker ratio and template content. Mitomycin C imprinted cryogel membranes have megaporous structure (10-100 mu m in diameter). The cumulative release of mitomycin C was decreased with increasing cross-linking agent ratio and increased with the amount of template in the cryogel structure. The nature of transport mechanism of the mitomycin C from the membranes was non-Fickian., TUBITAK-BIDEB2211-National Ph.D. Scholarship Programme, Kemal Cetin thanks The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) for the support by 'TUBITAK-BIDEB2211-National Ph.D. Scholarship Programme'.

Concanavalin A is a representative of the plant protein group known as lectins. Many lectin proteins have useful characteristics for studies on cell division and cell surfaces. In this study, a new adsorbent for the specific separation of Concanavalin A was prepared by applying a silica particle surface imprinting method. First, silica particles were activated via acidic treatment, and then, 3-methacryloyloxypropyl trimethoxysilane (MPTMS) was used for modification. For the preparation of Concanavalin A surface-imprinted silica particles (Con A-MISPs), N-methacryloyl- l -histidine methyl ester (MAH) was used as a functional monomer. The silica particles were characterized using a Zetasizer, scanning electron microscopy equipment (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The effects of parameters such as the pH, initial concentration of Concanavalin A, and temperature on the adsorption of Concanavalin A were determined. The maximum Concanavalin A adsorption onto Con A-MISPs was observed to be 305.2 mg/g at a pH of 6. The reusability of the Con A-MISPs was approximately 93.5%. The non-imprinted silica particles (NISPs) were prepared in the same manner without Concanavalin A to compare the surface imprinting factor. Selective binding studies were carried out with lysozyme and hemoglobin molecules. The selectivity of the Con A-MISPs was also investigated by isolating Concanavalin A from Canavalia ensiformis. The purity of the Concanavalin A was shown by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE).

Biophysical properties of nanoscale objects like high surface area, high diffusivity to cells, efficient uptake, high capacity to be used in biological interfaces, etc. make them very useful tools. Bionanotechnology or nanobiotechnology overlaps nanotechnology in terms of generation of bio-inspired hybrid materials derived from chemical or biological synthesis to fabricate functional macromolecules. Microbial cells are ideal producers for such structures because of their controlled culturability, easily genetic manipulability, and wide diversity.

WOS: 000457568600001, PubMed: 30686053, Herein, quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) biosensor is prepared for the detection of L-histidine by attachment of L-histidine imprinted poly(EGDMA-MAH/Cu(II)) nanoparticles on QCM electrode. The imprinted nanoparticles with the size of 86.43 nm were synthesized via miniemulsion polymerization reaction. Prepared QCM sensors were characterized with ellipsometer, contact angle measurements and FTIR. The thickness measurements demonstrated that the particle thin films were almost mono-layer. L-histidine solutions with a concentration range between 6.44 mu M and 225.6 mu M were introduced to QCM system to determine the adsorption kinetics. Selectivity of the L-histidine imprinted nanoparticles were examined using D-histidine and L-tryptophan as competitor molecules. L-histidine imprinted QCM biosensors was also used for RNAase, lysozyme, cytochrome-C and BSA to investigate the competitive adsorption of surface histidine exposed proteins.

Aflatoxins which are highly toxic, immunosuppressive and carcinogenic secondary metabolites produced naturally by Aspergillus flavus fungal species have a harm effect on human and animal health. Label free and rapid sensing of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) has drawn the increased interest of highly sensitive and selective research. A highly sensitive and selective plasmonic sensing method was developed for the detection of AFB1 based on enhance-surface plasmon resonance nanosensor. Firstly, AFB1 and N-methacryloyl- l -phenylalanine were pre-complexed as a template molecule and functional monomer. Molecularly imprinted polymers with gold nanoparticles were coated onto surface plasmon resonance (SPR) gold chip surface. The AFB1 imprinted nanosensor shown a wide linear range, between 0.0001 ng mL−1 and 10.0 ng mL−1, and the limit of detection is 1.04 pg mL−1. Compared to the non-imprinted nanosensor, the imprinting factor was found to be 5.91. Also, detection studies of AFB1 were performed using various food samples. Finally, SPR nanosensors were performed selectivity, reusability and storage stability analysis.

l-Phe-imprinted cryogel cartridge was prepared for the chiral separation of l-Phe. N-Methacryloyl l-phenylalanine (MAPA) was used as a functional monomer for complexing with l-Phe. The selectivity of the membranes was investigated by using d-Phe, l-Trp, and d-Trp as competitor molecules. The PHEMAPA-l-Trp membranes were 6.4, 4.3, and 5.5 times more selective for l-Phe than d-Phe, l-Trp, and d-Trp, respectively. The PHEMAPA-l-Phe cryogel cartridge was incorporated into the fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) equipment and was able to separate D,l-Phe racemic mixture efficiently. The PHEMAPA-l-Phe membranes were shown to be reusable many times without significant loss of the adsorption capacity.

A quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) biosensor was developed to detect highly metastatic breast cancer cells by functionalizing the gold sensor surface with transferrin attachment. MDA-MB 231 breast cancer cells with high and MCF 7 cells with low metastatic potential and transferrin expression were used. Serum starved MDA-MB-231 cells were used as control cells. First, poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) nanoparticles were prepared by mini-emulsion polymerization of hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA). Nanoparticles were characterized with a zeta-sizer and then their suspension is dropped on the surface of the QCM and the dried QCM surface was modified further by activation with carbodiimide and transferrin attachment. The QCM biosensor was analyzed by using atomic force microscopy (AFM), ellipsometry, Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry (FTIR) and contact angle measurements. The cells were applied to the derivatized QCM sensor to investigate the affinity and binding kinetics. The nanoparticles and transferrin were found to form a monolayer on the QCM surface. Binding kinetics were best fitted to the Langmuir–Freundlich adsorption model. The QCM signal was correlated well with the number of transferrin receptors on cells. It is concluded that the QCM biosensor functioning via transferrin receptor interactions may be used to detect breast cancer cells with high metastatic potential.

Synthetic cannabinoids (SCs), which are becoming increasingly popular, are an important public health issue considering the common abuse uses and serious adverse effects associated with intoxication. The analysis for controlling the increase in synthetic cannabinoids usage requires a faster and highly sensitive detection that rapidly developing class compounds. In this study, a piezoelectric nanosensor coated with a synthetic biomimetic recognition nanoparticles polymer was designed for the real-time and highly sensitive synthetic cannabinoids (SCs: JWH-018, JWH-073, JWH-018 pentanoic acid and JWH-073 butanoic acid) detection. Synthetic cannabinoids imprinted (MIP) and non-imprinted (NIP) nanoparticles were synthesized. Firstly, the characterization of MIP and NIP nanoparticles were studied by FTIR-ATR, scanning electron microscope, and size measurements. After, nanoparticles were spread onto a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) chip. Different QCM chip surfaces were studied by contact angle, ellipsometry, and atomic force microscopy measurements. Selective rebinding of target analytes was monitored as a frequency shift measuring mass change with the QCM. Limit of detection values were calculated as 0.28, 0.3, 0.23, 0.29 pg/mL for these SCs in artificial saliva, respectively. The SCs-MIP QCM nanosensors displayed high sensitivity and selectivity in a wide concentration range of SCs (0.0005–1.0 ng/mL) in artificial saliva.

Glycosylated Hemoglobin, known as HbA1c, is the most commonly used molecule to track and diagnose the Type II diabetes and gives very convincing accurate results. Tracking the HbA1c is also an early diagnostic tool to indicate diabetes occurrence in high risk patience. Glycosylated hemoglobin is the result of glucose binding of the β-chain of hemoglobin to N-terminal valine and reflects the average glucose value over the past 2–3 months. HbA1c in the blood concentration of more than 141 mg/dL is often enough to diagnose diabetes. Boronic acid derivatives are often used in HbA1c determination due to the carbohydrate relationship based on the cis-diol interaction and determinations based on this association are mostly carried out by enzymatic sensors and HPLC. In addition to these methods, sensor studies have also started to be developed as an alternative. In this study, it is aimed to determine HbA1c by a surface plasmon resonance sensor (SPR) modified with a boronic acid derivative vinyl phenyl boronic acid. This study is shown that the pH value is an important parameter for binding and the signal received is increased as the concentration increases. Even at low concentrations like 10 μg/mL, signal can be received and it implies that more accurate measurement can be made at clinical concentration values which are higher. In artificial plasma studies, different sensograms are obtained for human serum albumin, immunoglobulin G, and hemoglobin molecules which all could bind to modified chip and the selectivity to the molecules are distinctively differentiated in comparison with HbA1c.

The aim of this study is a highly sensitive and selective label-free surface plasmon resonance (SPR) aptasensor preparation for the specific detection of human activated protein C (APC). In the first step, DNA aptamer was complexed with N-methacryloyl-L-cysteine (MAC) monomer. Then, cyanamide and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate solution was mixed with the DNA-Apt/MAC complex. Two different SPR sensors (Random-DNA and HEMA-MAC polymeric films) were also prepared by following the same experimental procedure. The characterization of SPR aptasensors was done by contact angle, atomic force microscopy, and ellipsometer analysis. Selectivity studies of SPR aptasensors were performed in the presence of bovine serum albumin, hemoglobin and myoglobin. Desorption studies were performed by using 0.025 M NaCl solution. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) values of DNA-Apt SPR aptasensor was determined as 1.5 ng/mL and 5.2 ng/mL.

Pharmaceutically active compounds like diclofenac (DFS), ibuprofen (IBP), and other drugs that persist in the environment are listed as emerging contaminants. These escape from normal wastewater treatment plants and find their way to water streams; therefore, alternate treatment processes are needed. Herein, a sorbent material is reported that is prepared through hydrotermal carbonization from dried fruit powder of Zizipus mauritiana L. (HTC-ZM) and applied for simultaneous removal of DFS and IBP. Carbonized material (HTC-ZM) was found as agglomerates of approximately 1 μm particle size with surface area of 1160 m2/g having oxygen functional groups (e.g., COO, O, C=O) on surface. Simultaneous removal of IBP and DFS onto HTC-ZM was studied using response surface methodology with a set of 18 experiments using factors such as pH, amount of sorbent, contact time, and sorbate concentration. Maximum removal efficiency was obtained 88% and 97% for DFS and for IBP, respectively, with adsorption capacity of 2.03 mmol g−1 for DFS and 2.54 mmol g−1 for IBP. Kinetics modeling and “mean free energy” values predicted that sorption is mainly governed by physical interactions followed by “pore filling” mechanism for uptake of DFS and IBP.

Molecular imprinting technique was used for the preparation of antibiotic and anti-neoplastic chemotherapy drug (mitomycin C) imprinted cryogel membranes (MMC-ICM). The membranes were synthezied by using metal ion coordination interactions with N-methacryloyl-(l)-histidine methyl ester (MAH) functional monomer and template molecules (i.e. MMC). The 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) monomer and methylene bisacrylamide (MBAAm) crosslinker were used for the preparation of mitomycin C imprinted cryogel membranes by radical suspension polymerization technique. The imprinted cryogel membranes were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy-attenuated total reflectance (FTIR-ATR) and swelling degree measurements. Cytotoxicity of MMC-ICMs was investigated using mouse fibroblast cell line L929. Time-dependent release of MMC was demonstrated within 150 h from cryogel membranes. Cryogels demonstrated very high MMC loading efficiency (70-80%) and sustained MMC release over hours.

Polymers play an enormous role in the drug delivery field owing to their flexibility, biocompatibility, and controllable size properties. With the advances in the polymer technology and nanotechnology, the novel drug delivery systems (DDSs) based on nanoparticles have been successfully developed. Nanoparticulate DDSs with an enhanced permeation allow targeted delivery of an intended therapeutic drug to the site of action with predetermined time and activity. Numerous applications have been reported which use nanoparticles as smart delivery systems for synthetic, semi-synthetic or natural drugs, which could be small molecules or huge molecules like proteins. In smart DDSs the critical point is to achieve tunable drug release. Diffusion, matrix degradation or both can control this property. In recent years the use of molecular imprinting technology to arrange the drug release properties from the polymer matrix is attracting significant attention. The basis of this approach is the affinity of an imprinted polymer for the drug molecule, which provides high loading capacity and sustained release profiles. Imprinting also allows for construction of responsive drug release systems based on competitive binding of the imprinted molecule with the weakly bound drug. The studies on the nanoparticle-based imprinted delivery systems will be summarized in this chapter.

Immunoaffinity adsorbent for transferrin (Tf) purification was prepared by immobilizing anti-transferrin (Anti-Tf) antibody on magnetic monosizepoly(glycidyl methacrylate) beads, which were synthesized by dispersion polymerization technique in the presence of Fe3 O4 nanopowder and obtained with an average size of 2.0 μm. The magnetic poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (mPGMA) beads were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, swelling tests, scanning electron microscopy, electron spin resonance spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and zeta sizing analysis. The density and swelling ratio of the beads were 1.08 g/cm(3) and 52%, respectively. Anti-Tf molecules were covalently coupled through epoxy groups of mPGMA. Optimum binding of anti-Tf was 2.0 mg/g. Optimum Tf binding from aqueous Tf solutions was determined as 1.65 mg/g at pH 6.0 and initial Tf concentration of 1.0 mg/mL. There was no remarkable loss in the Tf adsorption capacity of immunoaffinity beads after five adsorption-desorption cycles. Tf adsorption from artificial plasma was also investigated and the purity of the Tf molecules was shown with gel electrophoresis studies.