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Preparation of a magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer for non-invasive determination of cortisol

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Abstract

This work presents the theoretical design, synthesis, characterization and application of a magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer (Mag-MIP) to quantify cortisol, the main stress biomarker, in urine samples. Density functional theory was used to predict a suitable solvent (acetonitrile) and a functional monomer (methacrylic acid) for MIP synthesis. Under these conditions, the Mag-MIP material was obtained by surface polymerization of modified Fe3O4 nanoparticles synthesized via the polyol method. The materials were characterized by scanning/transmission electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, vibrating sample magnetometry and thermogravimetric and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface analyses. Additionally, the Mag-MIP binding experiments showed rapid cortisol adsorption (completed in 20 min), Langmuir–Freundlich isotherm and a pseudo-first-order kinetic equation behaviour, and an excellent maximum binding capacity (200 µg g−1). The results were compared to those obtained for the magnetic non-imprinted polymer (Mag-NIP) and showed superior Mag-MIP performance. Selectivity experiments indicated that the Mag-MIP is capable of efficiently capturing cortisol in the presence of potential interfering substances. The Mag-MIP material was then applied to rapid quantitative cortisol extraction from urine samples prior to high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection (limit of detection of 4 µg L−1 and recoveries ranging between 92 and 100%). Therefore, the proposed method might be readily implemented for routine non-invasive monitoring of human stress levels and other cortisol-related conditions.

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Funding

The authors would like to thank the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP – Grant No. 2019/00677-7, 2017/24196-2 and 2014/50945-4) for the financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Química, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), CEP, 14800-060, Araraquara São Paulo, Brazil

    Javier E. L. Villa, Sabir Khan, Lucas C. S. Neres & Maria D. P. T. Sotomayor

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  1. Javier E. L. Villa
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  2. Sabir Khan
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  3. Lucas C. S. Neres
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  4. Maria D. P. T. Sotomayor
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Correspondence to Javier E. L. Villa.

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Villa, J.E.L., Khan, S., Neres, L.C.S. et al. Preparation of a magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer for non-invasive determination of cortisol. J Polym Res 28, 298 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10965-021-02659-y

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