{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,16]],"date-time":"2026-01-16T22:05:41Z","timestamp":1768601141289,"version":"3.49.0"},"reference-count":48,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,16]],"date-time":"2026-01-16T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1768521600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Polymers"],"abstract":"<jats:p>This work was inspired by quercetin, a natural bioflavonoid with well-known neuroprotective properties. We synthesized a new functional monomer, 3-acryloxy-3\u2032,4\u2032,5,7-tetramethylquercetin 1, and used it to prepare, for the first time, a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) selective for donepezil, the main drug used in Alzheimer\u2019s disease therapy. The polymer was designed to be fluorescent and responsive to pH changes, aiming for controlled drug release. The optimized MIP-4, produced from a 1:1 mixture of the monomer 1 and acrylic acid, was characterized by FTIR-ATR, fluorescence spectroscopy, SEM, and DLS, confirming its chemical composition, morphology, particle size distribution and zeta potential. Adsorption studies showed higher donepezil binding capacity for MIP than for NIP, highlighting the polymer\u2019s selective recognition. In vitro release experiments at pH 3, 5.5, and 7 revealed a pH-dependent behaviour, with nearly 98% cumulative donepezil release at pH 7. The polymer was non-cytotoxic and successfully released donepezil in in vitro assays, enabling effective inhibition of eeAChE. These results provide a proof of concept supporting the potential of quercetin-derived fluorescent molecularly imprinted polymers as selective and stimuli-responsive platforms for donepezil delivery.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/polym18020234","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,16]],"date-time":"2026-01-16T11:39:37Z","timestamp":1768563577000},"page":"234","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Novel Bioinspired Quercetin-Based Polymers for the Sustained Release of Donepezil in Alzheimer\u2019s Disease Therapy"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"18","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8117-7737","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Elisabete P.","family":"Carreiro","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute for Research and Advanced Training (IIFA), LAQV-REQUIMTE, University of \u00c9vora, Rua Rom\u00e3o Ramalho, 59, 7000-671 \u00c9vora, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Pedro","family":"M\u00faria","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, School of Science and Technology, University of \u00c9vora, 7000-671 \u00c9vora, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0002-9933-6518","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Diogo","family":"Velez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, School of Science and Technology, University of \u00c9vora, 7000-671 \u00c9vora, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4856-5150","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Manuela R.","family":"Carrott","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute for Research and Advanced Training (IIFA), LAQV-REQUIMTE, University of \u00c9vora, Rua Rom\u00e3o Ramalho, 59, 7000-671 \u00c9vora, Portugal"},{"name":"Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, School of Science and Technology, University of \u00c9vora, 7000-671 \u00c9vora, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8248-1116","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Anthony J.","family":"Burke","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Coimbra Chemistry Centre, Institute of Molecular Sciences (CQC-IMS), Departamento de Qu\u00edmica, University of Coimbra, 3004-535 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"Pharmaceutical Chemistry Laboratory, Faculty of Pharmacy, P\u00f3lo das Ci\u00eancias da Sa\u00fade, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"CNC-UC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, CIBB-Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3854-9130","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ana R.","family":"Costa","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medical & Health Sciences, School of Health & Human Development, University of \u00c9vora, 7000-810 \u00c9vora, Portugal"},{"name":"IIFA, CREATE-Center for Sci-Tech Research in Earth System and Energy, University of \u00c9vora, 7000-810 \u00c9vora, Portugal"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,16]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"WHO (2022). 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