FLUORESCENT FUNCTIONAL RECOGNITION SITES THROUGH MOLECULAR IMPRINTING- A POLYMER-BASED FLUORESCENT CHEMOSENSOR FOR AQUEOUS CAMP

A novel design for template-selective recognition sites in polymers pr epared by molecular imprinting is reported. Molecular imprints were pr epared against cAMP that contain a fluorescent dye, (N,N-dimethylamino )styryl]-N-vinylbenzylpyridinium chloride, as an integral part of the recognition cavity, thus serving as both the recognition element and t he measuring element for the fluorescence detection of cAMP in aqueous media. This fluorescent molecularly imprinted polymer-displays a quen ching of fluorescence in the presence of aqueous cAMP, whereas almost no effect is observed in the presence of the structurally similar mole cule, cGMP. The association constant for the binding of cAMP to the im printed polymer was determined to be in the order of 10(5)M(-1)M-1. Su ch fluorescent molecularly imprinted polymers containing selective sit es for cAMP may find applications as fluorescent chemosensors for the aqueous detection of this molecule.