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A molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) was rationally synthesized with the aid of computer based studies. The computational studies were used to screen for the most suitable template to functional monomer molar ratio. Two functional monomers were involved in the study (methacrylic acid and 4‐vinylpyridine). Four MIP ratios were synthesized in accordance with the results of the computational studies and their performance was evaluated using equilibrium rebinding assays. The MIP with the best performance was used as an additive in carbon paste electrodes for the voltammetric determination of valaciclovir (VCV). Following the optimization of voltammetric parameters, a linear response was obtained in the range of 1.0x10−6–7.0x10−4 M with a limit of detection at 4.45x10−7 M. The MIP modified carbon paste electrode was successfully applied for the determination of VCV in pure solutions and dosage form.

Enzymes are powerful versatile biocatalysts, however, industrial application of enzymes is usually hampered by their susceptibility. Bio-inspired Eudragit-a-amylase conjugate (E-AC) was proposed as a biocatalyst for various pharmaceutical and industrial applications. In this study, a-Amylase (E.C. 3.2.1.1) was immobilized by covalent conjugation to Eudragit L-100 under mild conditions. The effect of polymer, carbodiimide and enzyme concentrations on optimization of (E-AC) was investigated. In addition, characterization of the free a-Amylase and E-AC with regard to pH, temperature, kinetic parameters, reusability and operational and storage conditions was carried out. Results showed a shift of the optimum pH of E-AC towards the alkaline side whereas, E-AC exhibited higher thermal stability at all tested temperatures. The kinetic parameters, K m values were 2.87 mg/ml and 3.15 mg/ml and V max values were 8.35 mg/ml/min and 8.98 mg/ml/min for free and E-AC, respectively. E-AC retained 85% of the initial activity after five consecutive amylolytic cycles, thus emphasizing its powerful potentials. Operational storage and thermal stability were highly improved as well for E-AC conjugate with an 11.6 stabilization factor in comparison to the free a-amylase. In this study, Eudragit L-100 polymer was successfully used as smart immobilization support to create a reversibly soluble-insoluble enzyme biocatalyst to enforce and extend biotechnological applications of a-amylase in the pharmaceutical industry.

The present study describes the fabrication of molecularly imprinted (MI) magnetic beaded fibers using electrospinning. Rosmarinic acid was selected as exemplary yet relevant template during molecular imprinting. A “design of experiments” methodology was used for optimizing the electrospinning process. Four factors, i.e., the concentration of the biodegradable polymer (polycaprolactone), the applied voltage, the flow rate, and the collector distance were varied in a central composite design. The production process was then optimized according to the suitability of the beaded fibers during microrobot fabrication, actuation, and drug release. The optimum average fiber diameter of MI beaded fibers was determined at 857 ± 390 nm with an average number of beads at 0.011 ± 0.002 per µm2. In vitro release profiles of the optimized MI beaded fibers revealed a lower burst rate and a more sustained release when compared to control fibers. Magnetic control of the MI beaded fibers was successfully tested by following selected waypoints along a star-shaped predefined trajectory. This study innovatively combines molecular imprinting technology with magnetic microrobots enabling targeted drug delivery systems that offer precise motion control via the magnetic response of microrobots along with selective uptake of a drug into the microrobot using MI beaded fibers in future.

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