Amphiphilic hypercrosslinked β-cyclodextrin polymers with rigid networks for efficient acteoside separation

In this study, a series of amphiphilic hypercrosslinked β-cyclodextrin polymers (AHβ-CDPs) were synthesized by the hypercrosslinked strategy for acteoside (ACT) separation. Amphiphilic β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) had rigid ring structures, which constructed the rigid networks of AHβ-CDPs. AHβ-CDPs with rigid networks improved adsorption performance for two reasons. On one hand, the hydrophilic ACT was preferentially adsorbed on the hydrophilic outer surface of β-CD, and the hydrophobic molecules were encapsulated in the hydrophobic cavity, improving adsorption selectivity. On the other hand, the constructed rigid networks of AHβ-CDPs with affinity groups provided large specific surface area (1281.16 m2/g) and abundant pore structure, increasing additional transport pathways and affinity sites for enhancing adsorption capacity. The experimental results showed the as-prepared AHβ-CDPs-4 had the highest adsorption capacity of 288.36 ± 2.12 mg/g and the selectivity of 4.36 ± 0.11. Therefore, amphiphilic hypercrosslinked adsorbents with rigid networks had potential application for bioactive components separation from natural products.