Pendent chain linked delivery systems .2. Facile hydrolysis through molecular imprinting effects

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.