Molecularly imprinted polymers selective for nitrosamines and methods of using the same

• US 9,844,230 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2014
• Issued: 12/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: British American Tobacco Limited (British American Tobacco PLC)
• Original Assignee: British American Tobacco Limited (British American Tobacco PLC)
• Inventors: Bhattacharyya, Sumita, McAdam, Kevin, Rees, Anthony, Sellergren, Brje, Widstrand, Christine
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson, Michael H
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, PHU HOANG
• Application Number:
  US14/327,509
• Publication Number:
  US 20140332015A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,259 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A24B 15/24 by extraction; Tobacco extracts
• CPC Class Codes: A24B 15/245 Nitrosamines
• CPC Class Codes: A24D 3/02 Manufacture of tobacco smoke filters manufacture of paper or cellulosic materials for filters D21
• CPC Class Codes: A24D 3/067 characterised by functional properties
• CPC Class Codes: A24D 3/08 of organic materials as carrier or major constituent of ion exchange materials A24D3/12
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 15/3852 using imprinted phases or molecular recognition; using imprinted phases
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/268 Polymers created by use of a template, e.g. molecularly imprinted polymers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0098 Plants or trees wood G01N33/46

Abstract

A class of molecularly imprinted polymers that specifically recognizes and binds to nitrosamines members of which class are useful, for example, in analysis and separation of nitrosamines from biological fluids. Such molecularly imprinted polymers are also useful in methods of treating and manufacturing tobacco products and materials.

Claims

1. A molecularly imprinted polymer selective for at least one tobacco-specific nitrosamine, wherein said molecularly imprinted polymer is obtained using a functional or structural analogue of a tobacco-specific nitrosamine as a template, and includes an imprint of the functional or structural analogue of a tobacco-specific nitrosamine.

2. The molecularly imprinted polymer according to claim 1, wherein said at least one tobacco-specific nitrosamine is derived from nicotine, nornicotine, anabasine or anatabine.

3. The molecularly imprinted polymer according to claim 1, selective for the nicotine-derived nitrosamine NNAL.

4. The molecularly imprinted polymer according to claim 1, wherein the polymer has been prepared using an isosteric analogue of a tobacco-specific nitrosamine as a template.

5. The molecularly imprinted polymer according to claim 1, wherein the polymer has been prepared using 4-(methylpropenyl-amino)-1-pyridin-3-yl-butan-1-ol as a template.

6. The molecularly imprinted polymer according to claim 1, wherein the polymer has been prepared using pyridine carbinol as a template.

7. The molecularly imprinted polymer according to claim 1, wherein the polymer has been prepared using a compound that includes a substructure of the tobacco specific nitrosamine.

8. A kit, comprising:

the molecularly imprinted polymer according to claim 1; and

instructions for using the molecularly imprinted polymer to perform at least one of detecting, quantifying, and separating nitrosamines in a sample.

9. A smoking article, comprising:

a smoking material; and

the molecularly imprinted polymer according to claim 1, selective for at least one tobacco-specific nitrosamine found in the thermall decomposition products of the smoking material.

10. The smoking article according to claim 9, wherein the molecularly imprinted polymer is selective for at least one volatile nitrosamine found in the vapor phase of the thermal decomposition products of the smoking material.

11. A smoke filter, comprising:

filter material;

and the molecularly imprinted polymer according to claim 1.

12. The smoke filter according to claim 11, wherein the molecularly imprinted polymer is selective for at least one volatile nitrosamine found in the vapor phase of the thermal decomposition products of tobacco or a tobacco substitute.