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Synthesis and characterization of molecularly imprinted magnetic nanocomposite for propranolol removal

Ayub, Erum LU ; Ye, Lei LU orcid ; Hajizadeh, Solmaz LU orcid ; Ansari, Tariq Mahmood ; Manzoor, Suryyia ; Sahar, Hina ; Zhang, Qicheng LU and Zhang, Man LU (2026) In Journal of Materials Science 61(3). p.1608-1624
Abstract

This study presents a modular approach for the synthesis of multifunctional affinity sorbents, facilitating molecular separation via magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers. A magnetic propranolol-imprinted polymer (MIP) nanocomposite with superparamagnetic characteristics was synthesized through precipitation polymerization process coupled with coprecipitation methods. Initially, the propranolol-imprinted core–shell polymer was synthesized via a two-step precipitation polymerization. The obtained core–shell MIP particles (epo-MIP) were subsequently converted to MIPdiol through surface hydrolysis. Finally, the MIPdiol particles underwent an in situ coprecipitation process to incorporate Fe3O4 nanoparticles onto... (More)

This study presents a modular approach for the synthesis of multifunctional affinity sorbents, facilitating molecular separation via magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers. A magnetic propranolol-imprinted polymer (MIP) nanocomposite with superparamagnetic characteristics was synthesized through precipitation polymerization process coupled with coprecipitation methods. Initially, the propranolol-imprinted core–shell polymer was synthesized via a two-step precipitation polymerization. The obtained core–shell MIP particles (epo-MIP) were subsequently converted to MIPdiol through surface hydrolysis. Finally, the MIPdiol particles underwent an in situ coprecipitation process to incorporate Fe3O4 nanoparticles onto their shell surfaces, resulting in the formation of the magnetic nanocomposite (MIPmag). The synthesized magnetic nanocomposite was characterized using various analytical techniques. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the presence of surface functional groups, while scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed uniform morphology and well-defined internal structures. Vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) demonstrated the superparamagnetic behavior of MIPmag with a saturation magnetization (Ms) value of approximately 3.4 A m2/kg, with no coercivity and remanence. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) further assessed the thermal stability and decomposition profile of the nanocomposite. The binding capacity evaluation indicated that MIPmag exhibited a significantly higher binding capacity (Qe = 21.07 mg g−1) compared to the non-imprinted polymer NIPmag (Qe = 5.96 mg g−1), confirming the presence of specific recognition sites for propranolol within the imprinted structure. Kinetic studies revealed that adsorption equilibrium was achieved within 10 min, indicating rapid and efficient binding of propranolol onto the magnetic MIP. These results demonstrated that magnetic sorbents with tailored molecular recognition sites hold great promise for the selective and efficient removal of propranolol from water systems.

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Contribution to journal
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published
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in
Journal of Materials Science
volume
61
issue
3
pages
17 pages
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • scopus:105025541286
ISSN
0022-2461
DOI
10.1007/s10853-025-11962-8
language
English
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yes
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Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2025.
id
0eb2ec81-4f85-4141-bcbb-9be9d8ee453d
date added to LUP
2026-03-24 15:30:27
date last changed
2026-03-24 15:31:36
@article{0eb2ec81-4f85-4141-bcbb-9be9d8ee453d,
  abstract     = {{<p>This study presents a modular approach for the synthesis of multifunctional affinity sorbents, facilitating molecular separation via magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers. A magnetic propranolol-imprinted polymer (MIP) nanocomposite with superparamagnetic characteristics was synthesized through precipitation polymerization process coupled with coprecipitation methods. Initially, the propranolol-imprinted core–shell polymer was synthesized via a two-step precipitation polymerization. The obtained core–shell MIP particles (epo-MIP) were subsequently converted to MIPdiol through surface hydrolysis. Finally, the MIPdiol particles underwent an in situ coprecipitation process to incorporate Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub> nanoparticles onto their shell surfaces, resulting in the formation of the magnetic nanocomposite (MIPmag). The synthesized magnetic nanocomposite was characterized using various analytical techniques. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the presence of surface functional groups, while scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed uniform morphology and well-defined internal structures. Vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) demonstrated the superparamagnetic behavior of MIPmag with a saturation magnetization (Ms) value of approximately 3.4 A m<sup>2</sup>/kg, with no coercivity and remanence. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) further assessed the thermal stability and decomposition profile of the nanocomposite. The binding capacity evaluation indicated that MIPmag exhibited a significantly higher binding capacity (Q<sub>e</sub> = 21.07 mg g<sup>−1)</sup> compared to the non-imprinted polymer NIPmag (Q<sub>e</sub> = 5.96 mg g<sup>−1</sup>), confirming the presence of specific recognition sites for propranolol within the imprinted structure. Kinetic studies revealed that adsorption equilibrium was achieved within 10 min, indicating rapid and efficient binding of propranolol onto the magnetic MIP. These results demonstrated that magnetic sorbents with tailored molecular recognition sites hold great promise for the selective and efficient removal of propranolol from water systems.</p>}},
  author       = {{Ayub, Erum and Ye, Lei and Hajizadeh, Solmaz and Ansari, Tariq Mahmood and Manzoor, Suryyia and Sahar, Hina and Zhang, Qicheng and Zhang, Man}},
  issn         = {{0022-2461}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{3}},
  pages        = {{1608--1624}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{Journal of Materials Science}},
  title        = {{Synthesis and characterization of molecularly imprinted magnetic nanocomposite for propranolol removal}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10853-025-11962-8}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s10853-025-11962-8}},
  volume       = {{61}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}