Molecularly imprinted polyimide nanofibers prepared by electrospinning

An estrone imprinted polyimide nanofiber mat was prepared by using an electrospinning method. The diamine monomer–template complex was synthesized by the reaction of the diamine monomer having an isocyanate group and estrone (template) having a phenol moiety, in which the template was attached to the monomer via a thermally reversible urethane bond. A poly(amic acid) was synthesized by polymerization of the diamines (1:19 mole ratio of the diamine monomer–template complex to 4,4′-oxydianiline) and pyromellitic dianhydride in N,N-dimethylformamide and the reaction solution was used for electrospinning. The poly(amic acid) fibers were thermally imidized and then heated in 1,4-dioxane in the presence of water to remove the template molecules. The imprinted polyimide nanofibers showed the specific recognition ability and fast kinetic adsorption for estrone.