Ion-Imprinted Thermosensitive polymers for $Fe^ {3+}$ removal from human plasma

Thermosensitive gels have attracted a great deal of attention for the applications of drug delivery systems, actuators, separation and removal of biological compounds and metals. Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (poly(NIPA)), a representative gel, has a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) in the vicinity of 32°C i.e. showing hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity in water at lower and higher temperatures, respectively. Novel adsorbents using thermosensitive gels for trapping metals were reported where poly(NIPA) was used as a thermosensitive backbone polymer. A chelating group, which interacts with heavy metals, was introduced into poly(NIPA) with a molecular imprinting technique using a specific metal as the template. Although it is emphasized that metals play important roles in biological processes and some of them are classified as essential, the toxic symptoms will manifest when a metal ion level exceeds a certain threshold level. Many symptoms of iron toxicity, for example heart attacks, diabetes, arthritis, depression and liver failure, are arised from the absorption of iron in unacceptably high concentrations because of a genetic failure or by accidental ingestion. The aim of this study is to prepare ion-imprinted polymers for the removal of iron from aqueous solutions and solutions thalassemia patient`s plasma. N-methacryloyl-(L)-cysteine (MAC) was selected as the metal complexing monomer, with the goal preparing a solid-phase which has a high selectivity for Fe3+ ions. Poly(NIPA) was used as a thermosensitive backbone polymer matrix. A chelating group [N-methacryloyl-(L)- cysteine (MAC)] which interacts with Fe3+ ions, was introduced into poly(NIPA) with a molecular imprinting technique. After removal of the Fe3+ ions, adsorption of Fe3+ ions from thalassemia patient's plasma both on the poly(NIPA-MAC) and Fe3+-imprinted poly(NIPA-MAC) particles were studied in batch-wise.