SYNTHESIS OF FLUORESCENT MOLECULARLY IMPRINTED NANOPARTICLES FOR TURN-ON FLUORESCENCE ASSAY USING ONE-POT SYNTHESIS AND A MICROFLUIDIC REACTOR

A new strategy for synthesis of fluorescent molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) nanoparticles by one-pot precipitation polymerization using microfluidic reactor technology was developed. The reaction instrument includes three parts: a syringe pump with a fixed syringe for filling pre-polymerization mixture, a stainless coil as the reactor immersed in a water bath which supplies heating, and a container for collection of polymer products. The synthesized fluorescent MIP nanoparticles have uniform particle size and can be used for selective recognition of the target in a turn-on fluorescence mode based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). The microfluidic synthesis strategy can also be applied for producing other kinds of multi-functional nanoparticles by precipitation polymerization. In future development, similar microfluidic reactors may also be constructed to enable post-polymerization modifications to bring in multifunctional MIPs.