Protein Imprinting by Means of Alginate-Based Polymer Microcapsules

Molecular imprinting is a promising technology that, although successfully used to recognize small molecules, has had many difficulties in recognizing macromolecules such as peptides and proteins. The current technologies used to achieve the macromolecular imprinting are incompatible with diagnosis and recognition in many life sciences applications such as medical devices, food additives, or drug delivery systems that require biocompatible products. We present here a new, biocompatible technology of protein imprinting by means of calcium alginate-based polymer capsules using ionic gelation and without toxic chemicals other than sodium alginate and calcium chloride. These molecular imprinting capsules are capable of recognizing higher quantities of protein than the existing technologies developed until now, with a simple formulation.