Efficient one-pot synthesis of artemisinin-imprinted membrane by direct surface-initiated AGET-ATRP

Highly selective molecularly imprinted membranes (MIMs) for artemisinin (Ars) were synthesized by Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization using Activators Generated by Electron Transfer (AGET-ATRP) on the poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) micro-filtration membrane. The resulting membranes were characterized by ATR-FTIR and SEM. Batch rebinding studies were conducted to determine the adsorption equilibrium, kinetics and selective permeation performance. The estimated adsorption capacity of MIMs toward Ars by the Langmuir isotherm model was 3.46 mg g^-1 at 25 °C. The kinetic property of MIMs was well-described by the pseudo-second-order rate equation. The results of selective recognition experiments demonstrated outstanding affinity and selectivity toward Ars over competitive antibiotics (artemether). The selective permeation experiments were investigated to prove the excellent selective permeation performance of MIMs. The reusability of MIMs showed no obviously deterioration at least five repeated cycles in performance.