Uptake of nicotine from suspension culture of Nicotiana tabacum by molecularly imprinted polymers

Objectives The aim was to use molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) for the selective recovery of nicotine in plant cell cultures. MIPs can selectively uptake nicotine from suspension cultures of N. tabacum, and therefore may be useful for improving levels of secondary metabolites in plant cell cultures. Methods Suspension cultures of N. tabacum were initiated from callus and maintained in liquid Murashige and Skoog (MS) media containing 3% w/v sucrose, 0.1 mg/l α‐naphthaleneacetic acid acid (NAA) and 0.25 mg/l kinetin. Tween 80 at 1% was used for permeabilisation of cell cultures. Pre‐weighed XAD‐2 and two types of synthesized polymers, MIPs (A and B with one and two functional monomers, respectively) and corresponding non‐imprinted polymers (NIPs), A and B, were introduced aseptically into the permeabilised suspension cultures of N. tabacum, the nicotine contents of polymers were determined by gas chromatography and the adsorption yield of polymers were determined. Key findings Cell cultures of N. tabacum accumulated nicotine alkaloid intracellularly in varying levels, 6.8–14.9 mg/l fresh weight. MIPs were able to uptake 50–70% of released nicotine in suspension cultures of N. tabacum, whereas XAD‐2 recovered only 30–40%. The total levels of accumulated nicotine were enhanced up to 20 mg/l by simultaneous use of Tween 80 and MIPs. Conclusions The findings indicate the potential use of MIPs to uptake nicotine from suspension cultures of N. tabacum, and increase productivity of secondary metabolites in plant cell cultures.