Imprinting Cavities Research Articles

Construction of a thermoresponsive molecularly imprinted biomimetic hydrogel-based virus sensor and non-invasive cyclable detection of EV71.

Athermoresponsive molecularly imprinted hydrogel sensor was constructed for the specific selective recognition of enterovirus 71 (EV71). Due to the introduction of thethermosensitive monomer N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM), when the imprinted hydrogel is incubated with the virus at 37℃, the surface specific imprinting cavity will specifically recognize and capture the target virus EV71. When the temperature rises to 45℃, the combined EV71 is rapidly released due to changes in the shape and function of the imprinted sites. The MIP hydrogel-based viral sensor developed recognized, captured, and released the target virus in a non-invasive way. The imprinting factor of the target virus was 5.2, suggesting high selectivity, and the detection limit was 7.1 fM, suggesting high sensitivity. Detection was rapid, as adsorption equilibrium was achieved within 30 min. This method provides a new sustainable avenue for the simple and rapid detection of viruses.

A dual-recognition strategy based on pH-responsive molecularly imprinted membrane for highly selective capture of catecholamines: From construction to practical application

BackgroundCatecholamines (CAs) are involved in a wide range of physiological and pathological processes in the body and are progressively being used as important biomarkers for a variety of diseases. It is of great significance for accurate quantification of CAs to the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. However, the separation of CAs from complex biological matrices is still a great challenge due to the trace levels of CAs and the limited selectivity of existing pretreatment methods. ResultsIn this work, a dual-recognition imprinted membrane (BA-MIM) was developed to utilize the synergistic action of pH-responsive boron affinity and molecular imprinted cavities for highly selective capture and release of CAs. The prepared BA-MIM possessed remarkable adsorption capacity (maximum capacity, 43.3 mg g−1), desirable surface hydrophilicity (46.2°), superior selectivity (IF = 6.2, α = 14.3), as well as favorable reusability (number of cycles, 6 times). On this basis, an integrated analytical method based on BA-MIM extraction combined with ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) was innovatively developed to highly selective separation, enrichment, and detection of CAs in rat brain tissue. Under the optimum conditions, a low quantitation limits (0.05–0.10 ng mL−1), wide linear range (10–1000 ng mL−1), good linearity (r2 > 0.99), and satisfactory recoveries (88.5%–98.5 %) were obtained for CAs. The proven method was further applied to kidney-yang-deficiency-syndrome (KYDS) group rat model, revealed the intrinsic connection between kidney disease and catecholamine metabolism. SignificanceThis work provides an excellent reference paradigm for the effective construction of dual-recognition functional membrane material to the high-selective analysis of trace targets in complex matrices. Additionally, this integrated analytical strategy demonstrates its efficiency, sustainability, versatility, and convenience, showing remarkable prospect in a variety of applications for biological sample analysis.

Molecularly imprinted Photoelectrochemical sensor for Escherichia coli based on Cu:ZIF-8/KZ3TTz heterojunction

Herein, a signal stable molecularly imprinted photoelectrochemical (MIP-PEC) sensing platform was designed to sensitively detect Escherichia coli by incorporating polythiophene film with Cu: ZIF-8/KZ3TTz heterojunction. Attributed to the formation of a staggered type II heterostructure between KZ3TTz and Cu: ZIF-8 semiconductors, the Cu: ZIF-8/KZ3TTz heterojunction exhibited stable and significant cathode PEC response. Impressively, selective MIP film was grown on the surface of Cu: ZIF-8/KZ3TTz/GCE by electro-polymerization of 2,2-Dimethyl-5-(3-thienyl)-1,3-dioxane-4,6-dione (DTDD) in the presence of E. coli. After removing E. coli, more electrons were transferred to the electrolyte solution through the imprinting cavity on the MIP film, which was eliminated by O2 in the electrolyte, causing further enhancement of the cathode PEC response. On the contrary, when the imprinted cavity was filled with E. coli, the cathodic PEC response gradually decreased due to steric hindrance effect. The sensor showed excellent linearity in the range of 101 to 108 CFU/mL with a detection limit of 4.09 CFU/mL (S/N = 3). This strategy offered a novel approach for pathogenic bacteria detection in food safety and environmental monitoring

In-situ targeted removal of naphthalene from groundwater by peroxymonosulfate activation using molecularly imprinted activated carbon: Efficacy, mechanism and applicability

Efficient removal of low-concentration refractory polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) pollutants is crucial for ensuring groundwater safety. In this study, surface molecularly imprinted catalyst (MIP@AC) was developed based on activated carbon (AC) and molecular imprinting technology, and then MIP@AC was introduced into the simulated permeable reaction barrier to evaluate the performance of MIP@AC activated peroxymonosulfate (PMS) in in-situ targeted remediation of naphthalene (NAP) contaminated groundwater. The results showed that the relative adsorption selectivity coefficient and relative degradation selectivity coefficient of the MIP@AC material relative to the non-imprinted material AC was as high as 31.47 and 10.88, respectively; that is, MIP@AC can better resist the interference of competitive pollutants and achieve efficient targeted removal of NAP. Additionally, the reactive oxygen species (ROS) yield was higher in the MIP@AC/PMS system compared to the AC/PMS system. The target pollutant NAP was precisely enriched in the imprinted cavity of the MIP@AC, realizing that ROS production and pollutant degradation occurred simultaneously in the MIP@AC imprinted cavity. Therefore, the spatial confinement effect of the imprinted cavity shortened the mass transfer distance between the ROS and NAP, thereby reducing the loss of ROS due to self-quenching. Besides, Cl- significantly promoted the targeted removal of NAP, while HCO3- had a slight inhibitory effect; humic acid had no effect because of its larger molecular structure, which does not fit into the small imprinted cavities preferred by NAP. Importantly, the MIP@AC/PMS system demonstrated effective anti-complex matrix interference ability and targeted removal performance for NAP under natural groundwater conditions. This study can promote further research on the surface molecularly imprinted catalyst/PMS system as a new strategy for in-situ targeted remediation technology of contaminated groundwater.

Lanthanide metal-organic framework-based surface molecularly imprinted polymers ratiometric fluorescence probe for visual detection of perfluorooctanoic acid with a smartphone-assisted portable device

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) poses a threat to the environment and human health due to its persistence, bioaccumulation, and reproductive toxicity. Herein, a lanthanide metal-organic framework (Ln-MOF)-based surface molecularly imprinted polymers (SMIPs) ratiometric fluorescence probe (Eu/Tb-MOF@MIPs) and a smartphone-assisted portable device were developed for the detection of PFOA with high selectivity in real water samples. The integration of Eu/Tb MOFs as carriers not only had highly stable multiple emission signals but also prevented deformation of the imprinting cavity of MIPs. Meanwhile, the MIPs layer preserved the fluorescence of Ln-MOF and provided selective cavities for improved specificity. Molecular dynamics (MD) was employed to simulate the polymerization process of MIPs, revealing that the formation of multiple recognition sites was attributed to the establishment of hydrogen bonds between functional monomers and templates. The probe showed a good linear relationship with PFOA concentration in the range of 0.02–2.8 μM, by giving the limit of detection (LOD) of 0.98 nM. Additionally, The red-green-blue (RGB) values analysis based on the smartphone-assisted portable device demonstrated a linear relationship of 0.1–2.8 μM PFOA with the LOD of 3.26 nM. The developed probe and portable device sensing platform exhibit substantial potential for on-site detecting PFOA in practical applications and provide a reliable strategy for the intelligent identification of important targets in water environmental samples.

Molecular imprinting-based Ru@SiO2-embedded covalent organic frameworks composite for electrochemiluminescence detection of cyanidin-3-O-glucoside

Cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3G), a natural antioxidant, plays multiple physiological or pathological roles in maintaining human health; thereby, designing advanced sensors to achieve specific recognition and high-sensitivity detection of C3G is significant. Herein, an imprinted-type electrochemiluminescence (ECL) sensing platform was developed using core-shell Ru@SiO2-CMIPs, which were prepared by covalent organic framework (COF)-based molecularly imprinted polymers (CMIPs) embedded in luminescent Ru@SiO2 cores. The C3G-imprinted COF shell not only helps generate a steady-enhanced ECL signal, but also enables specific recognition of C3G. When C3G is bound to Ru@SiO2-CMIPs with abundant imprinted cavities, resonance energy transfer (RET) behavior is triggered, resulting in a quenched ECL response. The constructed Ru@SiO2-CMIPs nanoprobes exhibit ultra-high sensitivity, absolute specificity, and an ultra-low detection limit (0.15 pg mL−1) for analyzing C3G in food matrices. This study provides a means to construct an efficient and reliable molecular imprinting-based ECL sensor for food analysis.

An unlabeled electrochemical sensor for the simultaneous detection of homocysteine and uric acid based on molecularly imprinted recognition for prediction of cardiovascular disease risk

An unlabeled molecular imprinted electrochemical sensor was developed for simultaneous detection of homocysteine and uric acid, based on gold nanoparticles and molecularly imprinted polymer composites modified glass carbon electrode. Gold nanoparticles stably enhanced the electron transfer and improved the sensitivity by acting as a base for enhancing signal for molecularly imprinted polymers. Specific molecular imprinting cavities based on electropolymerization with dopamine were formed to specifically and simultaneously identify homocysteine and uric acid. Combining the good sensitivity of electrochemistry and the excellent selectivity of molecularly imprinted polymer, the difference in peak current position was used to achieve simultaneous detection of homocysteine and uric acid. For this reason, the developed sensor showed the wide detection range of 5.00 × 10−3-1.00 × 103 μmol/L for homocysteine and 5.00 × 10−1-5.00 × 103 μmol/L for uric acid, with the LOD of 5.64 × 10−5 μmol/L and 0.128 μmol/L (S/N = 3). The developed sensor with easy preparation, great selectivity and short detection time could be used in simultaneous detection of homocysteine and uric acid in serum.

Intrinsic tenase blood biomarker imprinted polymer-aptasensor with carbon nanohorn and gold nano-urchin construct for primitive-phase diagnosis of haemophilia B

The selective biomimetic aptasensor for blood coagulation factor IX protein (FIX) detection was developed using an interdigitated electrode with an Archimedean spiral pattern. In contrast to conventional molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) techniques, aptamer was employed as a macromonomer to accelerate double binding affinity. To preserve the aptamer profile in its protein-binding orientation, FIX protein and thiol-modified RNA aptamers were complexed prior to MIP fabrication. The immobilized aptamer-FIX complex was surrounded by a polymer generated by the electropolymerization of 3-thiophene acetic acid (3TAA). Subsequent to FIX protein removal, leaves imprinted cavities facilitate selective FIX protein detection in conjunction with the affinity of embedded aptamer affinity. The Archimedean IDE surface was functionalized with carbon nanohorn (CNH) and gold nanourchin (GNU) to increase the imprinting ratios and sensor sensitivity. The developed FIX-aptasensor shows a detection limit of 0.06 fM, which is 660-fold higher than aptamer-embedded MIP nanoparticles. Moreover, the sensor exhibited greater selectivity for FIX, discriminating IgG and thrombin. As a preliminary study for clinical use, the sensor was used to analyze human serum without target spiking and detected FIX-protein with a relative standard deviation of 9.18%. It was ascertained that the sensor maintained 85% sustained performance for a duration of five weeks.

Homogenization spin coating strategy for synthesizing IM-BTO photocatalytic membrane aims to tetracycline selectively degradation

Photocatalytic membrane technology is a promising technology for advanced water treatment. However, as a simple, fast, and stable spin coating method for photocatalytic membrane preparation, the spin coating solution often used in spin coating can cause the pore plugging on the membrane surface and encapsulates photocatalysts, which seriously affects the flux of the membrane and the exposure of the photocatalytic active site. Here, this work adopted a homogenization spin coating strategy, using polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) solution as the spin coating solution to prepare the highly exposed imprinted bismuth titanate porous photocatalytic membrane (IM-BTOM). Due to the same composition of PVDF solution as the PVDF substrate membrane, IM-BTOM basically retained the good porous structure of the membrane. The homogenization spin coating strategy not only endowed IM-BTOM with high flux (4545.45 L m-2h−1 bar−1), but also prevented the encapsulation of IM-BTO powder materials, fully exposing the photocatalytic active sites, thereby obtaining better photocatalytic ability and selectivity. The degradation rate of tetracycline with IM-BTOM was nearly three times that with the conventional cellulose acetate spin coating membrane. Meanwhile, the existence of imprinting cavities also endowed IM-BTOM with high selectivity for the target pollutant, with a selectivity coefficient of up to 2.66. This work provides a new idea for preparing high-efficient photocatalytic membrane by spin coating.

Optimization and verification of selective removal of organophosphate esters from wastewater by molecularly imprinted adsorbent

Tributyl phosphate (TNBP), a new type of flame retardant, is an emerging pollutant and has been frequently detected in various matrices such as wastewater. Efficient removal of TNBP is critical for wastewater treatment. In this study, molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) was prepared using precipitation polymerization for selective adsorption of TNBP. The results showed that MIP had a porous structure and formed effective imprinting cavities, which was primarily responsible for its superior adsorption ability. The adsorption of TNBP by MIP was carried out following both the pseudo-secondary kinetic model and the Langmuir isothermal adsorption model. MIP adsorbed TNBP rapidly and reached adsorption equilibrium within 30 min with 923 μmol g−1 at 298 K. The adsorption capacity and adsorption rate of MIP were respectively 2 and 5.49 times those of non-molecularly imprinted polymers. In addition, MIP could effectively counter disturbances from external parameters like temperature and pH, exhibiting strong environmental flexibility. MIP can specifically adsorb organophosphate esters, and can selectively adsorb TNBP under the interference of coexisting contaminants such as1,3-diphenylguanidine and isazofos. In actual bodies of water, MIP's highly selective adsorption of TNBP retains its advantage. The selective adsorption of MIP was mainly due to the common phosphate skeleton, and the specific substituent of organophosphate esters played an important role in the imprinting process. Hydrogen bonding might be involved in the polymerization process of TNBP with acrylamide and the adsorption process of TNBP by MIP.MIP exhibited good reuse efficiency, the total adsorption capacity decreased by no more than 25% after 7 reuse cycles. This study provides a simple and efficient method for selective removal of organophosphate from wastewater.

Construction of Sustainable Biomass Bubble Propulsion Micromotor and Selective Recognition/Separation of Shikimic Acid with Open 3D Target Imprinting Cavity

Construction of Sustainable Biomass Bubble Propulsion Micromotor and Selective Recognition/Separation of Shikimic Acid with Open 3D Target Imprinting Cavity

A ratiometric molecular imprinted electrochemiluminescence sensor based on enhanced luminescence of CdSe@ZnS quantum dots by MXene@NaAsc for detecting uric acid

An unlabeled ratiometric molecular imprinted electrochemiluminescence sensor was developed for the determination of trace uric acid, based on MXene@NaAsc nanocomposites, CdSe@ZnS quantum dots and molecularly imprinted polymer composites modified glass carbon electrode. MXene@NaAsc stably enhanced the electron transfer and improved electrochemiluminescence intensity by acting as a base platform and signal amplifier for CdSe@ZnS quantum dots. Specific molecular imprinting cavities based on electropolymerization with o-phenylenediamine were formed to specifically identify uric acid. Combining the good sensitivity of electrochemiluminescence and the excellent selectivity of molecularly imprinted polymer, the ratio of optical signal and electrical signal was used as a comprehensive signal to achieve the detection of uric acid. Based on this, uric acid was detected in the range from 1 × 10−10 to 1 × 10−4 mol/L with the LOD of 18.13 pmol/L (S/N = 3). The developed sensor with easy preparation, great selectivity and excellent sensitivity could successfully detect uric acid in human serum.

Molecular imprinting-electrochemiluminescence sensor based on Ru(bpy)32+@ZnO-Au composite for sensitive detection of acrylamide

In this work, a quenched molecularly imprinting-electrochemiluminescence (MIP-ECL) sensor based on Ru(bpy)32+@ZnO-Au nanocomposites was constructed to realize the sensitive detection of acrylamide (AM). Ru(bpy)32+@ZnO-Au nanomaterials show high ECL efficiency. AuNPs has excellent properties and can improve the properties of electrochemiluminescence by promoting the electron transfer process of the luminescent body. The MIP polymer film was formed on the surface of the material and eluted with eluent, leaving an AM imprinting cavity as a specific recognition site. When adding different concentrations of AM, it was specifically recognized by the MIP membrane, and the ECL signal decreased gradually, thus realizing the sensitive detection of AM. Under the optimal conditions, the detection ranges of the MIP-ECL sensor are 1–108 nM and the limit of detection (LOD) is 0.123 nM. Therefore, this sensor proposed in this work opens up a new way for the sensitive detection of AM in food.

Preparation of double-system imprinted polymer-coated multi-walled carbon nanotubes and their application in simultaneous determination of thyroid-disrupting chemicals in dust samples

Dust ingestion is a significant route of human exposure to thyroid-disrupting chemicals (TDCs), and simultaneous determination of multi-contaminants is a great challenge for environmental monitoring. In this study, molecularly imprinted polymer-coated multi-walled carbon nanotubes using thyroxine as the template were synthesized for highly selective TDCs capture. This polymer was prepared by integrating the atom transfer radical polymerization using 2-(3-indol-yl)ethylmethacrylamide as the monomer with the self-polymerization of dopamine. Construction of double-system imprinted cavities could significantly improve their selective recognition performance for TDCs and the coincidence rate reached 88.5 %. The prepared polymers were applied as the solid phase extraction adsorbent to simultaneously determine 7 groups of 35 TDCs. The proposed method showed wide linear range (0.25–1000 ng L−1), low limits of detection (0.02–0.23 ng L−1) and acceptable recoveries (81.8 %–103.5 %). The occurrence and distribution of TDCs were then studied in indoor dust samples (n = 65) collected from four cities in China. We found that tetrabromobisphenol A was the predominant compound and perfluorinated compounds were the most abundant TDCs. In addition, the distribution ratio of TDCs varied between regions. This study provides an efficient technology for direct exposure assessment of multi-contaminants.

Targeted degradation of naphthalene by peroxymonosulfate activation using molecularly imprinted biochar

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in aquatic environments are threatening ecosystems and human health. In this work, an effective and environmentally friendly catalyst based on biochar and molecular imprinting technology (MIT) was developed for the targeted degradation of PAHs by activating peroxymonosulfate. The results show that the adsorption amount of naphthalene (NAP) by molecularly imprinted biochar (MIP@BC) can reach 82% of the equilibrium adsorption capacity within 5 min, and it had well targeted adsorption for NAP in the solution mixture of NAP, QL and SMX. According to the comparison between the removal rates of NAP and QL by MIP@BC/PMS or BC/PMS system in respective pure solutions or mixed solutions, the MIP@BC/PMS system can better resist the interference of competing pollutants (i.e., QL) compared to the BC/PMS system; that is, MIP@BC had a good ability to selectively degrade NAP. Besides, the removal rate of NAP by MIP@BC/PMS gradually decreased as pH increased. The addition of Cl− greatly promoted the targeted removal of NAP in the MIP@BC/PMS system, while HCO3− and CO32− both had an inhibitory effect. Furthermore, SO4•-, O2•- and 1O2 produced by BC activating PMS dominated the NAP degradation, and it was inferred that the vacated imprinted cavities after NAP degradation can continue to selectively adsorb NAP and this could facilitate the reusability of the material. This study can promote the research on the targeted degradation of PAHs through the synergism of biochar/PMS advanced oxidation processes and MIT.

Construction of Highly Active and Selective Molecular Imprinting Catalyst for Hydrogenation.

Surface molecular imprinting (MI) is one of the most efficient techniques to improve selectivity in a catalytic reaction. Heretofore, a prerequisite to fabricating selective catalysts by MI strategies is to sacrifice the number of surface-active sites, leading to a remarkable decrease of activity. Thus, it is highly desirable to design molecular imprinting catalysts (MICs) in which both the catalytic activity and selectivity are significantly enhanced. Herein, a series of MICs are prepared by sequentially adsorbing imprinting molecules (nitro compounds, N) and imprinting ligand (1,10-phenanthroline, L) over the copper surface of Cu/Al2O3. The resulting Cu/Al2O3-N-L MICs not only offer promoted catalytic selectivity but also enhance catalytic activity for nitro compounds hydrogenation by an creating imprinting cavity derived from the presorption of N and forming new active Cu-N sites at the interface of the copper sites and L. Characterizations by means of various experimental investigations and DFT calculations disclose that the molecular imprinting effect (promoted activity and selectivity) originates from the formation of new active Cu-N sites and precise imprinting cavities, endowing promoted catalytic selectivity and activity on the hydrogenation of nitro compounds.

Target recognition and preferential degradation of toxic chemical groups by innovative group-imprinted photocatalyst with footprint cavity

Target recognition and preferential degradation of toxic chemical groups remain critical challenges in photocatalytic degradation of organic contaminant. In this study, the concept of group-imprinting was first proposed, and group-imprinted copolymers of aniline and pyrrole were grafted from the surface of magnetic CuFeO2@MnO2 nanocomposites (MIP-CuFeO2@MnO2) using acrylamide as dummy templates for imprinting the amide group of tetracycline for the first attempt, and the molar ratios of dummy template molecule to functional monomer was optimized. The magnetic MIP-CuFeO2@MnO2 showed high adsorption capacity and good recognition for tetracycline. In mixture solution of tetracycline and ibuprofen, the distribution coefficient (kd) value of MIP-CuFeO2@MnO2 for tetracycline was 0.308 L/g, which is 6.86 times more than for ibuprofen (only 0.045 L/g). The selection factor (α) of MIP-CuFeO2@MnO2 is about 3.2 times that of non-imprinted counterpart, indicating that the imprinting cavities in copolymer layer which match with the amide groups of tetracycline can selectively recognize and adsorb tetracycline. More importantly, MIP-CuFeO2@MnO2 exhibited preferential degradation performance for amide groups, which was confirmed by the intermediates and degradation pathway. The E. coli growth suggests effective toxicity reduction of tetracycline due to the preferential degradation of amide groups by photocatalysis of MIP-CuFeO2@MnO2.

Surface imprinted-covalent organic frameworks for efficient solid-phase extraction of fluoroquinolones in food samples

Molecularly imprinting on covalent organic frameworks (MI-COF) is a promising way to prepare selective adsorbents for effective extraction of fluoroquinolones (FQs). However, the unstable framework structure and complex imprinting process are challenging for the construction of MI-COF. Here, we report a facile surface imprinting approach with dopamine to generate imprinted cavities on the surface of irreversible COF for highly efficient extraction of FQs in food samples. The irreversible-linked COF was fabricated from hexahydroxytriphenylene and tetrafluorophthalonitrile to ensure COF stability. Moreover, the introduction of dopamine surface imprinted polymer into COF provides abundant imprinted sites and endows excellent selectivity for FQs recognition against other antibiotics. Taking enrofloxacin as a template molecule, the prepared MI-COF gave an exceptional adsorption capacity of 581 mg g−1, a 2.2-fold enhancement of adsorption capacity compared with nonimprinted COF. The MI-COF was further explored as adsorbent to develop a novel solid-phase extraction method coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography for the simultaneous determination of enrofloxacin, norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin. The developed method gave the low limits of detection at 0.003–0.05 ng mL−1, high precision with relative standard deviations less than 3.5%. The recoveries of spiked FQs in food samples ranged from 80.4% to 110.7%.

High-throughput imprinted non-metal S-scheme heterojunction self-cleaning membrane with tight adhesion via dopamine for selective photodegradation of TC

The traditional photocatalysts have no selective photocatalysis ability and are difficult to separate and recycle. Herein, the imprinted modified non-metal S-scheme heterojunction photocatalytic membrane (IM-NSH-PM) was prepared via imprinting modification technology and dopamine (DA) tight adhesion method, which possessed high throughput (2548.6 L m−2 h−1 bar−1), good self-cleaning performance, excellent stability and recovery performance. The cross-linking and polymerization of DA on PVDF membrane surface can form a strong interaction between basement membrane and imprinted modified non-metal S-scheme heterojunction (IM-NSH), which made IM-NSH-PM adhered closely together. Besides, the formed S-scheme heterojunction between PDI and g-C3N4, which weakened the recombination rate of electrons and holes and further improved the photodegradation ability. The photodegradation rate of TC by IM-NSH-PM reached 71.88%. More importantly, under the action of imprinting modification, IM-NSH was endowed with many imprinted cavities consistent with the three-dimensional structure of tetracycline (TC), thereby TC can be preferentially selective adsorbed and degraded, and the selectivity coefficient of IM-NSH-PM to non-imprinted modified non-metal S-scheme heterojunction photocatalytic membrane (NIM-NSH-PM) was 1.88. This work shows a meaningful idea for exploring self-cleaning membranes with good selective photodegradation ability for the target pollutant.

Hollow-structured molecularly imprinted polymers enabled specific enrichment and highly sensitive determination of aflatoxin B1 and sterigmatocystin against complex sample matrix

The biotoxins with high toxicity have the potential to be manufactured into biochemical weapons, seriously threatening international public security. Developing robust and applicable sample pretreatment platforms and reliable quantification methods has been recognized as the most promising and practical approach to solving these problems. Through the integration of the hollow-structured microporous organic networks (HMONs) as the imprinting carriers, we proposed a molecular imprinting platform (HMON@MIP) with enhanced adsorption performance in terms of specificity, imprinting cavity density as well as adsorption capacity. The HMONs core of MIPs provided a hydrophobic surface that enhanced the adsorption of biotoxin template molecules during the imprinting process, resulting in an increased imprinting cavity density. The HMON@MIP adsorption platform could produce a series of MIP adsorbents by changing the biotoxin template, such as aflatoxin and sterigmatocystin, and showed promising generalizability. The limits of detection (LOD) of the HMON@MIP-based preconcentration method for AFT B1 and ST were 4.4 and 6.7 ng L−1, respectively, and the method was applicable to food sample with satisfied recoveries of 81.2–95.1%. And the specific recognition and adsorption sites left on HMON@MIP by the imprinting process can achieve outstanding selectivity for AFT B1 and ST. The developed imprinting platforms hold great potential for application in the identification and determination of various food hazards in complex food sample matrices and contribute to precise food safety inspection.