Chromatographic characterization of a molecular imprinted polymer binding cortisol

A cortisol-binding polymer was prepared by utilising a non-covalent molecul ar imprinting polymerisation technique. The obtained polymer was packed in a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) column; the selectivity was studied by liquid chromatography, eluting cortisol, cortisone, corticoster one, progesterone, 11-keto-progesterone, 11 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, 17 a lpha-hydroxyprogesterone, cortisol 21-hemisuccinate, and cortisol 21-acetat e with chloroform, containing 0.5% (v/v) acetic acid, as mobile phase. The mechanism of molecular imprinting was confirmed and a good selectivity for cortisol, with limited recognition for cortisone and 11 alpha-hydroxyproges terone, was found. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.