Hyperbranched Molecularly Imprinted Photoactive Polymers and Its Detection of Tetracycline Antibiotics

Fluorescent and amine-terminated hyperbranched polymers (AT-HP) were prepared by a divergent method using homophthalic acid and cystamine dihydrochloride. We then report a synthetic route for hyperbranched molecularly imprinted polymers (AT-HP/TR-MIPs) via a surface-imprinting method using AT-HP as starting materials, acrylic acid as the functional monomer, tetracycline (TR) as the template molecule, and epichlorohydrin (ECH) as a crosslinking agent. The hyperbranched structure and material compositions were extensively characterized by FT-IR, 1H NMR, SEM, viscosity analysis, and elemental analysis. The results indicate that AT-HP and AT-HP/TR-MIPs were successfully made with an end-group index of 0.48 and an amino value of 523.24. The limit of detection (LoD) of AT-HP/TR-MIPs for tetracycline molecules was 0.39 mg·L–1, and the blot factor is 6.30. The recognition selectivity and resistance to interference are outstanding, which are much better than other reported MIPs. The selective degradation of AT-HP/TR-MIPs on tetracycline and oxytetracycline was 2.42. This molecularly imprinted hybrid combines the specific recognition and fluorescence sensing advantages in one polymer and provides a platform for MIPs in identifying tetracycline molecules in the environment.