Molecularly imprinted materials, method for their preparation and devices employing such materials

A method for molecularly imprinting a material, comprising:

• forming a solution comprising a solvent and (a) a polymeric material capable of undergoing an addition reaction with a nitrene, (b) a crosslinking agent according to the formula ##STR21## wherein R is a lower alkyl group and X is a halogen, (c) a functionalizing monomer according to the formula ##STR22## wherein X is a halogen and Y is selected from the group consisting of --OH, --SH, --CHO, --COOH, --NH.sub.3, --NHR.sub.1 and --NR.sub.1 R.sub.2, and (d) an imprinting molecule;
• evaporating the solvent to leave a residue;
• exposing the residue to an energy source to form a crosslinked polymeric substrate;
• and
• extracting the imprinting molecule from the crosslinked polymeric substrate.

A method for molecularly imprinting a material, comprising:

• forming a solution comprising a solvent and (a) a polymeric material capable of undergoing an addition reaction with a nitrene, (b) a crosslinking agent according to the formula ##STR24## wherein R is a lower alkyl group and X is a halogen, (c) a functionalizing monomer according to the formula ##STR25## wherein X is a halogen and Y is selected from the group consisting of --OH, --SH, --CHO, --COOH, --NH.sub.3, --NHR.sub.1 and --NR.sub.1 R.sub.2, and (d) an imprinting molecule;
• coating a silicon wafer with the solution;
• evaporating the solvent to form a film on the silicon wafer;
• exposing the film to an energy source;
• and
• extracting the imprinting molecule from the film.

A method for molecularly imprinting a material, comprising:

• forming a solution comprising a solvent and (a) a polymeric material capable of undergoing an addition reaction with a nitrene selected from the group consisting of saturated polyolefins, acrylics, polystyrene, polystyrene analogs, unsaturated polyolefins, polyimides, polyesters, conjugated polymers, conducting polymers, inorganic polymers, organic metals, organometallic polymers, and polysaccharides, (b) a crosslinking agent according to the formula ##STR27## wherein R is a lower alkyl group, (c) a functionalizing monomer according to the formula ##STR28## wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of --OH, --SH, --CHO, --COOH, --NH.sub.3, --NHR.sub.1 and --NR.sub.1 R.sub.2, and (d) an imprinting molecule;
• spincoating a silicon wafer with the solution;
• evaporating the solvent to form a film on the silicon wafer;
• exposing the film to an energy source selected from the group consisting of energized electrons, energized ions, photons and heat;
• and
• extracting the imprinting molecule from the film.

A method for detecting an analyte, comprising:

• forming solutions comprising (a) a substrate capable of undergoing an addition reaction with a nitrene, (b) a crosslinking agent according to the formula ##STR30## wherein R is a lower alkyl group and X is a halogen, (c) a functionalizing monomer according to the formula ##STR31## wherein X is a halogen and Y is selected from the group consisting of --OH, --SH, --CHO, --COOH, --NH.sub.3, --NHR.sub.1 and --NR.sub.1 R.sub.2, and (d) an imprinting molecule;
• evaporating the solvent to form a film;
• exposing the film to a reaction energy to form a crosslinked substrate;
• extracting the imprinting molecules from the crosslinked substrate;
• exposing the film to one or more of the imprinting molecules for a period of time sufficient to couple the imprinting molecules to the film;
• and
• detecting the presence of the imprinting molecule.