An easy synthesis of small, stable and water-compatible superparamagnetic protein-specific molecularly imprinted nanoparticles

We report the synthesis of small (below 100 nm), stable and water-compatible superparamagnetic molecularly imprinted nanocomposites using water-soluble, dithiocarbamate-based photoiniferters. These agents were adsorbed directly on surface maghemite nanoparticles allowed thin layers polymer able to specifically selectively bind green fluorescent protein as a model protein. To best or our knowledge, this is first time that water soluble photoiniferters have been used prepare kind materials.