Chromatographic Separation of Xanthine Derivatives on Single and Mixed-Template Imprinted Polymers

We developed in the present study molecular imprinted polymers (MIPs), using single templates (pentoxifylline, caffeine and theophylline) and mixed-templates (pentoxifylline-caffeine, pentoxifylline-theophylline and caffeine-theophylline). The MIPs were prepared with methacrylic acid (MAA) as the monomer, ethylene glycol dimetharylate (EGDMA) as the crosslinker and 2,2'-azobis(isobutyronitrile) (AIBN) as the initiator. The obtained polymer particles (particle size after grinding was about 25-35 ${\mu}$m) were packed into a HPLC column (3.9 mm i.d. ${\times}$ 150 mm). The selectivity and chromatographic characteristics of the MIPs were studied using acetonitrile as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.8 mL/min. UV detector wavelength was set at 270 nm. Different single template MIPs showed different molecular recognitions to the templates and the structurally analogues, according to the rigidity and steric hindrance of the compounds. Recognition was improved on the mixed-template MIPs as a result of the cooperation or sum effect of the templates, whereas on the pentoxifylline-theophylline imprinted polymer, the highest selectivity and affinity were obtained. Separations of the test compounds on different polymers were also investigated.