Definition and Applications:

Molecular imprinting is a technique for preparing polymers with structure-selective adsorptive properties. This is achieved by arranging functional monomers around a template compound and then fixing the monomers in this spatial arrangement with a cross linker. An ideal molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) has homogeneous binding sites which show no co-operative properties and no matrix effects .Such an MIP could find uses as the sorbent in SPE as the stationary phase in HPLC , and as the receptor layer in biosensors. It is probably the use of MIPs in biosensors which holds the greatest promise of enabling researchers to create analytical systems for highly selective, robust, and fast, one step assays.

Research Interests:

1.Application of molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction (MISPE) in selective extraction of chemicals from herbal extracts, human serum and other biological fluids and tissues.

2.Application of MIPs in preparation of novel drug delivery systems (e.g. molecularly imprinted soft contact lenses for ocular drug delivery)

3.Preparation and investigation of molecularly imprinted micro and nano particles.

4.Application of MIPs in water treatment and detoxification of aqueous media

 Proposals:

 1.Preparation of ocular drug delivery soft contact lens for brimonidine, in-vitro evaluations of its binding properties and in-vivo studies in rabbit eye.

 2.Extraction and analysis of haloperidol in rabbit tissues using its molecularly imprinted polymer.

 3.Preparation of histamine imprinted polymer, study of its binding properties and its application in extraction of histamine from canned fish.

 4.Extraction of lactose from milk by means of its polymericreceptor.

 5.Preparation of clozapine imprinted polymer, study of its bindingproperties and its application in drug assay in serum.

 6.Evaluation of diclofenac release from its molecularly imprintedpolymer in aqueous and organic solvents.

 7.Preparation of poly (hydroxylethyl methacrylate) hydrogels as newocular drug delivery systems and study of their binding and drug releaseproperties.

 8.Synthesis of crocin imprinted polymer and study of its bindingproperties.

 9.Synthesis of omeprazole and pantoprazole imprinted polymers and studyof their binding characteristics in aqueous and organic solvents.

10.Extractionand analysis of diazinon in cucumber using its molecularly imprintedpolymer.

 11.Extraction and analysis of haloperidol in rabbit tissues using itsmolecularly imprinted polymer.

 12.Synthesis of molecularly imprinted nanoparticles for someorganophosphates (Glyphosate, Malathion, Dichlorvos) and their bindingproperties in organic and aqueous media.

 13.Preparation of molecularly imprinted nanoparticles in precipitationusing microwave and classic methods and study of their binding properties

Publications:

1.Clozapine imprinted polymers: synthesis, characterization andapplication for drug assay in human serum

2.Extraction of crocin from saffron (Crocus sativus) usingmolecularly imprinted polymer solid-phase extraction

3.Clozapine Recognition via Molecularly Imprinted Polymers; BulkPolymerization Versus Precipitation Method

4.Development of a pH-responsive imprinted polymer for diclofenacand study of its binding properties in organic and aqueous media

5.Controlled release of prednisoloneacetate from molecularly imprinted hydrogel contact lenses.

6.Application of molecularly imprinted hydrogel for the preparationof lactose-free milk.

7.Non-covalently lactose imprinted polymers and recognition of saccharides in aqueous solutions.