Separation of ‎STIGMA STEROL using magnetic molecularly imprinted nanopolymer fabricated by sol-gel method

Background & Aims: Magnetically molecularly imprinted polymers (MMIPs) are assumed as kind of sorbent polymers ‎which can separate or determine bioactive compounds from environment fast and specifically.  ‎Magnetic properties, stability at various conditions (temperature , ionic strength and pH) and selective ‎function are among the advantages of these polymers in determination of nutraceutical compound. In current research, a molecularly imprinted polymer synthesized by application of Fe3O4@SiO2 nanoparticles and its functional properties were ‎evaluated. Materials & Methods: In order to fabricate polymer, firstly Co‏-‏precipitation method was used for ‎manufacturing of magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles coated by ‎silica. Then stigmasterol imprinted ‎polymer were prepared by grafting sol-gel procedure. ‎Finally obtained polymer were eluted by ‎mixture of ethanol-water-chloroform to create specific sorbent cavities for stigmasterol. Polymer ‎was incubated with stigmasterol stock solution and binding capacity ‎was determined through high ‎performance liquid chromatography. Results: Structure and morphology of ‎samples were evaluated by FT-‎IR spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy and Zeta sizer was used for determination of their zeta potential. ‎MMIPs ‎could separate ‎‏78% ‏‎ of stigmasterol from stock solution during 60 minutes and its binding ‎capacity was ‎‏19.5‏‎ mg/g. FT-IR spectrometry and zeta potential data revealed well-designed coating ‎of silica around magnetic Fe3O4‎ cores. Adsorbent silica layers were reinforced through sol-gel ‎polymerization method. Polymer morphology was porous, coarse and particle dimensions were ‎ less than 50 nanometers. Conclusion: So regarding separation and structural characteristics of properties these sorbents, the produced magnetically imprinted nanopolymer can be used for detection of stigmasterol as a neutraceutical compound.