Selectivity of response in fluorescent polymers imprinted with N-1-benzylidene pyridine-2-carboxamidrazones

Fluorescent polymers imprinted with various N-1-benzylidene pyridine-2-carb oxamidrazones were evaluated for their recognition of the original template and cross-reactivity to similar molecules. Dramatic quenching of fluoresce nce approaching background levels was observed for most cases where the "em pty" MIP was re-exposed to its template. Molecules too large to enter the i mprinted cavities gave no reduction of fluorescence. Other compounds were-f ound to quench the fluorescence and are assumed to have entered the imprint ed cavities. There is also evidence for partial responses which may give so me measure of partial binding. The fluorescence response profiles of substr ates containing polycyclic aromatics were found to be quite different from those containing flexible substituents. In order to make this approach more suitable for high-throughput screening a method has been validated wherein the extent of substrate-induced fluorescence quenching may be obtained wit hout having to know how much polymer is present. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.