Hyperbranched Molecularly Imprinted Photoactive Polymers and Its Detection of Tetracycline Antibiotics

Fluorescent and amine-terminated hyperbranched polymers (AT-HP) were prepared by a divergent method using homophthalic acid and cystamine dihydrochloride. We then report a synthetic route for hyperbranched molecularly imprinted polymers (AT-HP/TR-MIPs) via a surface-imprinting method using AT-HP as starting materials, acrylic acid as the functional monomer, tetracycline (TR) as the template molecule, and epichlorohydrin (ECH) as a crosslinking agent. The hyperbranched structure and material compositions were extensively characterized by FT-IR, H-1 NMR, SEM, viscosity analysis, and elemental analysis. The results indicate that AT-HP and AT-HP/TR-MIPs were successfully made with an end-group index of 0.48 and an amino value of 523.24. The limit of detection (LoD) of AT-HP/TR-MIPs for tetracycline molecules was 0.39 mg.L-1, and the blot factor is 6.30. The recognition selectivity and resistance to interference are outstanding, which are much better than other reported MIPs. The selective degradation of AT-HP/TR-MIPs on tetracycline and oxytetracycline was 2.42. This molecularly imprinted hybrid combines the specific recognition and fluorescence sensing advantages in one polymer and provides a platform for MIPs in identifying tetracycline molecules in the environment.