(167c) Use of Photopolymerized Sol-Gel for Chemical Analysis

We have demonstrated that it is possible to prepare porous organic-inorganic monolithic materials for capillary electrochromatography (CEC) by the sol-gel process using methacrylate-substituted alkoxy silanes. The methacrylate group allows for the photopolymerization of the sol-gel oligomers formed during the hydrolysis and condensation steps of the sol-gel process resulting in a monolithic structure that we call photopolymerized sol-gel (PSG). By careful choice of porogen and control of its concentration it is possible to create an extremely porous network that has many advantageous properties. Results will be presented showing the use of this material in capillaries for electrochromatographic separations. We have also found this material quite effective for preconcentration of analytes of interest. In addition an enzyme can be covalently bonded at a nonactive amine site in the enzyme and an aldehyde group of the PSG. The enzymes are found to retain their biological activity allowing the digestion of proteins for chemical analysis.