Effect of Reversible Cross-linker, N,N‘-Bis(acryloyl)cystamine, on Calcium Ion Adsorption by Imprinted Gels

Imprinted gels incorporating two different breakable cross-linkers, a PbMAA2 complex and a disulfide (S−S) bond, were prepared by radical polymerization. After the lead ions were removed by washing, these gels showed a high affinity for calcium ions. Breakage and subsequent reconnection of the S−S bonds in the absence of Ca2+ decreases the Ca2+ binding affinity of the gel. This indicates that random reconnection of the S−S bonds produces a frustration in the adsorption of Ca2+ by the carboxyl groups. However, if the S−S bonds were reconnected in the presence of Ca2+ and the Ca2+ was subsequently removed (the post-imprinting technique), the resulting gels showed a higher binding affinity for Ca2+. This indicates that the post-imprinting technique creates a more favorable conformation for Ca2+ binding in the polymer network. We interpret our data to mean that “memory” of target-binding sites was encoded effectively into the polymer network by the initial imprinting technique and then enhanced by the post-imprinting technique.