Combined magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers with a ternary deep eutectic solvent to purify baicalein from the Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi by magnetic separation

A ternary deep eutectic solvent (DES) was applied as a novel functional monomer for synthesis of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) to separate baicalein from the Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi ( S. baicalensis ). For rapid separation from the complex systems, modified Fe 3 O 4 particles were used as the magnetic cores to prepare magnetic deep eutectic solvent molecularly imprinted polymers (DES-MMIPs). The prepared DES-MMIPs were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, Fourier transform infrared spectra, x-ray diffraction, thermal gravimetric analysis, vibrating sample magnetometer and BET analysis. Moreover, the adsorption capability and selectivity of DES-MMIPs to baicalein were investigated systematically. The results of adsorption experiments demonstrated that DES-MMIPs showed excellent binding capacity to baicalein and the selectivity of DES-MMIPs to baicalein was much higher than that of structure analogues (quercetin, hesperetin and keampferol). Finally, DES-MMIPs were applied in selective extraction of baicalein in the S. baicalensis by magnetic separation. The analysis was conducted by high performance liquid chromatography. The recoveries of baicalein in the S. baicalensis ranged from 91.6% to 99.3%. It had been proven that the DES-MMIPs were an innovative and effective adsorbent for selective recognition and separation of baicalein in complex systems.