Molecularly Imprinted Polymers: Biomimetic Binding Reagents for Drug Delivery
Molecular imprinting technology is a novel biomimetic binding reagent for drug delivery applications. The technology utilizes the foremost printer-like activities to produce highly selective and specific binding reagents which are able to recognize and selectively capture drug molecules, allowing for improved controlled release profiles and enhanced drug delivery. Utilizing this technology, the selective binding affinity of the reagent, drug, or enzyme can be increased while preserving its pharmacokinetic properties. The technology has been used in a wide range of drug delivery applications, including oral sustained release, aerosolized and inhaled drug delivery, injectable sustained release systems, or transdermal patches.
Molecular imprinting technology is extremely simple and inexpensive. It only requires the addition of a few basic components to the solution containing the drug before printing. The components include a pre-treated substrate, a monomer and crosslinker, and a template molecule of the drug. The template molecule is then presented to the pre-treated substrate. The pre-treatment process is the key for creating a large and highly selective binding site for the drug. The monomer and crosslinker are then added and the printing process is complete. The printing process yields a highly selective and specific binding reagent, with each molecule (monomer or crosslinker) in the solution forming its own interaction with the drug molecule.
In addition to its advantages as a drug delivery platform, molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are also able to recognize molecules from a wide range of classes, including small molecules such as peptides, proteins, steroids, and nucleic acids. This is due to the ability of the binding sites of the MIPs to selectively recognize the molecules based on their chemical and conformational properties. Furthermore, the binding sites of MIPs are extremely hydrophobic and enable improved drug delivery due to their ability to reduce the solubility of drug molecules in aqueous solutions, which can enable improved controlled release profiles and sustained release.
MIPs can be used to enhance and modify the pharmacokinetics of drugs. By combining the MIP with a drug, the release of the drug can be tailored based on the size and shape of the drug molecule. For example, if a larger drug molecule is combined with the MIP, it can be selectively released due to the combination of the MIPs binding sites and the drug molecule’s size and shape. Alternatively, if a smaller drug molecule is combined with a MIP, it can be released in a controlled, sustained fashion due to the MIP’s affinity for the drug molecule and its ability to reduce solubility.
Molecular imprinting technology is an innovative biotechnology solution for drug delivery. It is extremely simple, inexpensive and versatile, making it a suitable tool for a variety of applications. It has enabled improved drug delivery and regulated release profiles, which could prove to be extremely useful for developing more targeted and effective drug delivery strategies. In the future, researchers may be able to further explore and refine this technology, leading to even better controlled release profiles and enhanced drug delivery.
