Application of a Molecularly Imprinted Polymer for the Extraction of Kukoamine A from Potato Peels

A molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) for the purification of N-1,N-12-bis(dihydrocaffeoyl)spermine (kukoamine A) was computationally designed and tested. The properties of the polymer were characterized. The protocol of the solid phase extraction (SPE) of kukoamine A from potato peels was optimized. A HPLC-MS method for the quantification of kukoamine A was developed and used for all optimization studies. The capacity of the MIP in relation to kukoamine A from the potato peels extract was estimated at 54 mg/g of the polymer. The kukoamine A purified from potato extract using MIP was exceptionally pure (approximate to 90%). Although the corresponding blank polymer was less selective than the MIP for the extraction of kukoamine A from the potato extract, it was shown that the blank polymer could be effectively used for the purification of the crude synthetic kukoamine (polymer capacity = 80 mg of kukoamine A/g of the adsorbent, kukoamine A purity approximate to 86%). Therefore, selective adsorbents could be computationally designed for other plant products, allowing their purification in quantities that would be sufficient for more detailed studies and potential practical applications.