THE PREPARATION OF A MOLECULAR IMPRINTED POLYMER TO 7-HYDROXYCOUMARINAND ITS USE AS A SOLID-PHASE EXTRACTION MATERIAL

A molecular imprinted polymer (MIP) was prepared to 7-hydroxycoumarin (7-OHC). A number of preparation parameters were examined by ultraviol et (UV) spectroscopy, including the amount of solvent used for reactio n, equilibration time, selectivity and capacity of material. The polym er which showed the most selectivity for 7-OHC was then packed into ca rtridges and used as a solid-phase extraction sorbent. An extraction p rocedure was then developed from first principles. The cartridges were examined for selectivity of 7-OHC over some other members of the coum arin family. 7-OHC was then extracted from urine using this solid-phas e extraction (SPE) method, and its concentration determined using capi llary zone electrophoresis (CZE). The method was found to be linear ov er the range 10-50 mu g ml(-1). Inter-and Intra-assay precision studie s were performed ro validate the method. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V .