Lotus seedpod-like molecularly imprinted polymers fabricated by MOF-808 stabilized Pickering emulsion and their specific recognition of hemoglobin.

Herein, a new type of surface cellular protein imprinted polymers (MIPs) with inner macropores was fabricated via surface imprinting technology based on surface-modified Metal Organic Framework (MMOF-808) stabilized Pickering emulsion polymerization, and the MIPs were further used for selective adsorption and separation of bovine hemoglobin (BHb). For the first time, silane coupling agent modified MOF-808 particles were applied to stabilize a O/W emulsion, followed by the self-assembly of dopamine in the presence of BHb in the outer phase (PBS solution). SEM images proved that the MIPs possessed cellular structures, and the lotus seedpod-like structure could encourage more imprinted sites distributed on the surface of the polymeric materials, bringing about the imprinted sites easy accessibility. The static adsorption behaviors followed the Scatchard model with an equilibrium adsorption capacity of 406 mg g and pseudo-first-order kinetics with the equilibrium adsorption time of 50 min. Moreover, the cellular polymers exhibited a prominent imprinting effect possessing the imprinting factor of 4.56. Importantly, the polymeric materials could be repeatedly used for rebinding bovine hemoglobin without significant loss in adsorption capacity. Therefore, the proposed approach we described in this work will provide a good reference in the separation and enrichment of biomacromolecules in aqueous solution.