Pharmaceutical applications for molecularly imprinted polymers

Molecular imprinting is a means of introducing sites of specific molecular arrangement into an otherwise uniform polymeric matrix. This is achieved by formation of a pre-polymerisation complex between complementary monomers a nd the template molecule. Subsequent polymerisation in the presence of a cr osslinker, in a porogenic environment, results in the production of a macro porous polymer capable of specific molecular recognition. This paper consid ers potential roles for molecularly imprinted polymers within a pharmaceuti cal remit. Applications including controlled release, drug monitoring devic es and biological receptor mimetics are discussed. Histamine and ephedrine molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) were studied as potential biological receptor mimics whilst a propranolol MIP was investigated for its use as a rate attenuating selective excipient in a transdermal controlled release de vice. Preliminary studies concerning the preparation of a theophylline sele ctive transcutaneous monitoring device, using a theophylline MIP, are also described. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.