Surface-imprinted microspheres were controllably synthesized using ionic liquid-functionalized microspheres with a highly cross-linked raspberry-like structure as the matrix via surface molecular self-assembly and precipitation polymerization in aqueous media at room temperature. An immunostimulating hexapeptide from human (IHH) with medical properties was chosen as a template molecule in the preparation of different molecularly imprinted microspheres (MIMs). The experiment process was tracked and the as-prepared microspheres were well characterized. Results reveal that the adsorption capacity and selective recognition of MIMs have a direct relationship with the properties of the functional chain of the ionic liquid-functionalized microspheres. Moreover, MIMs that have both high adsorption capacity and good selective recognition were used in competitive rebinding tests and analysis of urine samples, which demonstrated their potential use for IHH enrichment and in real samples.

Novel water-compatible ionic liquid-functionalized microspheres with molecularly imprinted shell layer were controllably synthesized via precipitation polymerization and surface imprinting technique. Here, a room-temperature ionic liquid was synthesized to prepare these surface-imprinted microspheres with excellent water solubility and multiple binding sites with template molecules. The peptide drug thymopentin (TP5) was chosen as a template molecule, which is known as an immunomodulating agent. The as-prepared microspheres were fully characterized. Results reveal that ionic liquid incorporation significantly improves the adsorption of TP5. Moreover, the adsorption property and recognition capability towards TP5 are closely related to the synergetic effect of electrostatic interaction and hydrogen bonding. Through employing the synergetic effect of directional and non-directional interactions, the surface-imprinted microspheres exhibit high adsorption capacity, good selective recognition, and rapid binding ability for TP5. The surface-imprinted microspheres demonstrate potential usage for TP5 enrichment from other biomolecules, and the proposed method was successfully applied for TP5 determination in thymopentin injection and urine.

The surface functionalities of nanomaterials provide an invaluable resource to biomaterials science in the form of biomolecular recognition, sensing, self-assembly and drug delivery. This paper presents a one-step procedure for the facile preparation of highly cross-linked raspberry-like nano/microspheres by the dispersion polymerization of polyethylene glycol dimethacrylate and N-vinylimidazole. Ionic liquid-functionalized reactions were then conducted on the surface of the raspberry-like nano/microspheres to investigate the effects of the functional groups on the peptide adsorption in aqueous media. Various characterization methods were employed to characterize the as-prepared nano/microspheres and to track the experiment process. The results reveal that the nano/microspheres were raspberry-like, monodisperse and stable. It was also found that the adsorption of immunostimulating hexapeptide from human (IHH) was correlated with the surface properties of the ionic liquid-functionalized nano/microspheres, which demonstrated their potential use for the immobilization and release of IHH in practical application.