Pendent chain linked delivery systems: II. Facile hydrolysis through molecular imprinting effects

Abstract

In an earlier communication we reported the synthesis of hydrogels containing an imidazole group and the polymer conjugate which formed a charge transfer complex. The catalytic activity of imidazole enhanced the rate of release of p-nitrophenol. To further extend this approach to polymer conjugates which cannot form such complexes, we now show how the functional groups in such cases can be brought in proximity by metal-ion coordination and molecular imprinting techniques. The hydrolysis of the inactive esters from these hydrogels takes place under facile conditions and is pH responsive.