Preparation and optimization of a molecularly imprinted polymers - solid phase extraction system for the extraction of bioactive sesquiterpene lactones of Ambrosia maritima plant

A solid phase extraction (SPE) system for sesquiterpene lactones of damsissa was developed utilising molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs). The prepared MIPs had a mesoporous structure and particle size of approximate to 2.65 mu m with 3.99 nm pore size. Additionally, MIPs exhibited high thermal stability with degradation temperature between 209 and 459 degrees C. Optimized MIP-SPE protocol conditions were set at loading step: 1 mL ethanol; washing step: 1 mL water; eluting step: 4 mL methanol. Developed MIP-SPE system showed a binding capacity of 66.66 mg/g based on Langmuir isotherm which was selected as the best fitting model isotherm. Good selectivity coefficients were observed for neoambrosin of 2.37, 1.31 and 1.14 against umbelliferone, quercetin glucoside and p-coumaric acid, respectively. Furthermore, the proposed MIP-SPE protocol displayed some potential in the isolation of sesquiterpene lactones from damsissa plant extract and laid a foundation for the development of more selective MIPs to nonpolar natural products.