Matrine-imprinted monolithic stationary phase for extraction and purification of matrine from Sophorae flavescentis Ait

Abstract A matrine-imprinted monolithic stationary phase (MIP monolith) was prepared by in situ polymerization for extraction and purification of matrine from Sophorae flavescentis Ait. Matrine was used as the template molecule, methacrylic acid as the function monomer, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as the cross-linking agent, and toluene and dodecanol as the porogenic solvents. Scanning electron microscope study revealed that a monolithic structure with mesopores and 36 μm diameter nodules was obtained. The molecular recognition process and the effect of varying chromatographic conditions on separation were examined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Hydrogen bonding, electrostatic, hydrophobic interactions and the molecular shape matching in MIP monolith cavities were proposed to be responsible for the recognition mechanism. The use of MIP monolith as a solid-phase extraction (SPE) sorbent for extraction and purification of matrine from S. flavescentis Ait was investigated. The extraction yield was 89.2% (for 3.0 mmol l −1 matrine) with enrichment factor 29.