Molecularly Imprinted Polymer for Pyrazinamide

Pyrazinamide (PZA) is one of the most widely used antitubercular drugs. In this study a polymer selective for pyrazinamide was synthesized by a molecular imprinting technique, and the binding characteristics of the imprinted polymer (MIP) were studied by high performance liquid chromatography. When the mobile phase was the same as the solvent used in polymerization, the most obvious imprinting effect was obtained. Though the molecular weight of the template is low, the imprinted polymer showed selectivity for PZA over its analogues. The mixture of PZA and pyrazine (or nicotinamide) was separated on a column packed with imprinted polymer, while it was unable to be separated on the column packed with non-imprinted polymer.