Cyclodextrin-based polyurethanes act as selective molecular recognition materials of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs)

A series of highly cross-linked water insoluble polyurethanes have been produced using β-cyclodextrin and/or 2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)propionic acid as monomers and toluene-2,4-diisocyanate or hexamethylene diisocyanate as cross-linkers. It is demonstrated that the binding specificities of the produced polymers for selected active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) are considerably different; the introduction of H-bond donor and acceptor systems and the chemical nature of the cross-linker are shown to influence the binding capabilities of the produced polymers for the studied APIs.