Molecularly imprinted surfaces using surface-bound templates

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of producing a hierarchical molecularly-imprinted material, comprising: (a) synthesizing at least one peptide corresponding to an epitope of a target peptide or target protein by attaching a first amino acid to modified surfaces of the pores of a disposable surface-modified porous support, followed by attaching one or more amino acids to said first amino acid to produce said at least one peptide attached to said surfaces; (b) providing a selected monomer mixture; (c) contacting said monomer mixture with said support surface-attached peptide so that the monomer mixture enters the pores of the porous support; (d) initiating polymerisation or at least one crosslinking reaction of said monomer mixture to yield a polymer; and (e) dissolving or degrading said at least one support surface-attached peptide and said support; to provide a polymer material comprising a hierarchical molecular imprint of the epitope synthesized in step (a) and the porous support, wherein the epitope is a peptide that corresponds to only part of the target peptide or protein.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said target peptide is a dipeptide or oligopeptide.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein step (d) is conducted with the aid of at least one factor consisting of crosslinking agents, heat, and ultraviolet irradiation.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said epitope of a target peptide is selected from the group consisting of FMOC-Phe-Gly-Si, H-Phe-Gly-Si, FMOC-Phe-Gly-OH, H-Phe-Gly-NH.sub.2, H-Phe-Gly-Gly-Phe-OH (SEQ ID NO:1), and H-Gly-Phe-OH.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein said disposable surface modified support is modified silica or controlled pore glass (CPG).

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein said monomer mixture comprises monomers selected from the group consisting of styrene/divinyl benzene, methacrylates, acrylates, acrylamides, methacrylamides and combinations thereof.

7. A method of using a molecularly-imprinted material, comprising: producing a molecularly-imprinted material according to claim 1; and using said molecularly-imprinted material as an affinity phase for the separation of biological macromolecules or oligomers.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein said biological macromolecules or oligomers are selected from the group consisting of peptides, polypeptides, oligopeptides, proteins, nucleic acids, oligonucleotides, polynucleotides, saccharides, oligosaccharides, and polysaccharides.

9. A chromatographic stationary phase, comprising a molecularly imprinted material produced according to claim 1, wherein said peptide, oligosaccharide or oligonucleotide of step (c) is selected from the group consisting of FMOC-Phe-Gly-Si, H-Phe-Gly-Si, FMOC-Phe-Gly-OH, H-Phe-Gly-NH.sub.2, H-Phe-Gly-Gly-Phe-OH (SEQ ID NO:1), and H-Gly-Phe-OH.