TESTOSTERONE RECEPTOR-BINDING MIMIC CONSTRUCTED USING MOLECULAR IMPRINTING

The molecular imprinting technique was used in the synthesis of polyme rs having a high affinity for testosterone. These polymers thus functi on as receptor binding mimics for the drug. Various polymerization con ditions were examined in order to determine their influence on the bin ding strength and selectivity of the binding mimics. Using a series of similar steroids, we were able to identify features of the molecules which affect their affinity for the polymer matrix. The efficacy of co valent and noncovalent imprinting methods was also compared. As determ ined by HPLC, the most selective (noncovalently imprinted) polymer bou nd testosterone over 4 times more strongly than did a nonimprinted pol ymer and at least 3 times more selectively than steroids of similar st ructure.