International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR) ISSN (Online): 2319-7064 Index Copernicus Value (2013): 6.14 | Impact Factor (2014): 5.611 Volume 5 Issue 1, January 2016 www.ijsr.net Licensed Under Creative Commons Attribution CC BY Radiation Synthesis and Characterization of Cholesterol Molecularly Imprinted Polymer of Crosslinked Hydroxyethyl Methacrylate EL-Sayed A. Hegazy 1 , Gilane M. Sabry 2 , Magda K. Ezz 3 , H. Kamal 4 , S. Lotfy 5 , Somaya Zakaria Mansour 6 , Dina Hassan Eissa 7 1 Polymer Chemistry Department, National Center for Radiation Research and Technology (NCRRT), Atomic Energy Authority (AEA), PO Box 29, Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt. 2 Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt. 3 Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt. 4 Polymer Chemistry Department, National Center for Radiation Research and Technology (NCRRT), Atomic Energy Authority (AEA), PO Box 29, Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt. 5 Polymer Chemistry Department, National Center for Radiation Research and Technology (NCRRT), Atomic Energy Authority (AEA), PO Box 29, Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt. 6 Radiation Biology Department, National Centre for Radiation Research and Technology, Atomic Authority, Cairo, Egypt. 7 Radiation Biology Department, National Centre for Radiation Research and Technology, Atomic Authority, Cairo, Egypt. Abstract: Cholesterol-imprinted poly hydroxyethyl methacrylate (MIP) andnon-imprinted polyhydroxyethyl methacrylate (NIP) have been prepared via polymerization by gamma radiation. The functional structure of the imprinted and non-imprinted polymers were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR); the spectrum showed that the HEMA interacts with cholesterol through H-bonds. The surface morphology of NIP and MIP were investigated by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and the MIP image appeared as a rough surface, while NIP had no pores. The specificity of MIP to interact with the print molecular was studied cholesterol and the results showed a higher cholesterol adsorption by MIP than that by NIP. This work approachesto design robust MIP to mimic natural recognition entities as adsorbed materials of cholesterol. Keywords: Molecular imprinted polymers, NIP, HEMA, Cholesterol and Gamma Radiation 1. Introduction Cholesterol takes a significant part in many biological mechanisms and it is as important componentsinthe manufacture of bile acids, steroid hormones, and several fat- soluble vitamins[1]. High levels of blood cholesterol increase the risk of heart disease[2]. Cholesterol is a steroid that plays important roles in developing cardiovascular diseases. Correctly quantified cholesterol concentration on biological and food samples is in great need, especially for patients sufferingfrom heart diseases[3-4].It is involved in the atherosclerosis development and in heart degenerative processes. Cholesterol is also a constituent of animal foods such aseggs, meat and dairy products [5].Determination of cholesterol content in food is of primaryimportance to select a diet with low intake of cholesterol.In the analytical practice, well known GC and HPLCmethods are used for the cholesterol measurement, but avery intensive pre-treatment of the samples is needed [6].In the last few years a lot of research has gone intoestablishing rapid routine methods for the fast determinationof cholesterol.The most common and cheapest purification techniquesare thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and Solid-PhaseExtraction (SPE) [7].Molecular imprinting Technology (MIT) is today a viable synthetic approach to design robust molecular recognition materials able to mimic natural recognition entities, such as antibodies and biological receptors[8].Cholesterol is the attractive target molecule in the clinical field, therefore, it was used as the target imprinting molecule (template) in previous arts .Cholesterol template possesses a conformational rigidity can fit well in the cavity of the polymer matrix with minimal change in conformation and will increase the affinity and selectivity in the recognition [9-10]. Molecular imprinting is a powerful method, which provides synthetic polymers with specific binding properties. The synthesis of MIP involves the assembly crosslinking of monomers around a template molecule followed by polymerization in the presence of a cross linker. “Removal of the template molecule by extraction leaves sites specific to the template molecule in both a shape and chemical functionality, thus enabling subsequent recognition of the template”[11].MIPs are well known for their specificity in the interaction with the print molecules. The efficiency of imprinting is evaluated by studying the interaction of MIP with another molecule of close resemblance between geometry and structure with the print molecule. The uptake of this molecule should be less, compared to the extent of absorption the print molecule [12]. Paper ID: NOV152733 297