The detection of testosterone in aqueous solutions is a difficult task due to the low concentration levels that are relevant in environmental and physiological samples. Current analytical methods are expensive and/or complex. To address this issue, we fabricated a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) photonic film for the detection of testosterone in water. The films were obtained using colloidal crystals as templates for the pore morphology. Monodispersed silica particles with an average diameter 330 nm were used to obtain the colloidal crystal by vertical deposition. A solution of acrylic acid with testosterone as the imprinted template was infiltrated in the colloidal crystal and polymerized via bulk polymerization; the particles were then removed by acid etching and the testosterone eluted by a suitable solvent. The material was characterized by FTIR, swelling experiments and microscopy; MIPs were investigated by equilibrium rebinding, kinetics and reuse experiments. The results showed that the MIPs exhibited selectivity to the template, a 30-min equilibration time and stability after at least six cycles of use and regeneration. After incubation, the reflectance spectra of the films showed a shift of the Bragg diffraction peak that correlated with testosterone concentration in the 5–100 ppb range.

Molecular imprinted polymers are custom made materials with specific recognition sites for a target molecule. Their specificity and the variety of materials and physical shapes in which they can be fabricated make them ideal components for sensing platforms. Despite their excellent properties, MIP-based sensors have rarely left the academic laboratory environment. This work presents a comprehensive review of recent reports in the environmental and biomedical fields, with a focus on electrochemical and optical signaling mechanisms. The discussion aims to identify knowledge gaps that hinder the translation of MIP-based technology from research laboratories to commercialization.

In this study, 96 water samples were collected from the Tigris River within Baghdad city. These samples were used for studying the physical and chemical parameters by using a geographical information system GIS (spatial analysis). The analytical results show high concentration of total dissolved solid (TDS), electric conductivity (EC), total hardness, Sulphate (SO 4 ), Chloride (Cl) and Iron (Fe), which indicates signs of deterioration. On the other hand, the values of pH, calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), and fluoride (F) are within permissible limits as per World Health Organization (WHO) and Iraqi Criteria.

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Ceramic membranes suffer from rapid permeability loss during filtration of organic matter due to their fouling propensity. To address this problem, iron oxide ultrafiltration membranes were coated with poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate) (polySBMA), a superhydrophilic zwitterionic polymer. The ceramic-organic hybrid membrane was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and optical profilometry (OP). Membranes with and without polySBMA coating were subjected to fouling with bovine serum albumin solution. Hydraulic cleaning was significantly more effective for the coated membrane than for the non-coated one, as 56%, 66%, and 100% of the fouling was removed for the first, second, and third filtration cycle, respectively. Therefore, we can highlight the improved cleaning due to an increased fouling reversibility. Although some loss of polymer during operation was detected, it did not affect the improved behavior of the tested membranes.

Molecular imprinting is one of the promising techniques that have been used recently to detect trace contaminants in aqueous solution. This technique is based on the fact that the target compound is present during the polymer synthesis which gives an opportunity for the molecularly imprinted polymers (MIP) to rebind the target molecule selectivity after removal. In this thesis, it was used to detect a hormone (testosterone) in water and blood samples. The procedures are straightforward, fast, and use simple equipment. The detection of the template was carried out by using HPLC and UV-Vis. The MIP starts by preparing a template for the polymer morphology from a silica particle deposition on the glasses slides. At the beginning of this research, the silica particles were prepared by using the Stober method and then commercial silica particles were used. Bulk polymerization was used to prepare the polymer. Two types of solvent (porogen) have been applied. The composition of the prepolymerization solution was optimized. The smart sensor was used first as a self-standing film to characterize and validate. After that, the sensor was deposited on a Poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) slide as a support material which made it easy to use and regenerate. The selectivity and sensitivity of the sensor to the target (testosterone) were studied. The sensor has the potential to detect testosterone not only in a water sample but also in blood samples. In addition, this sensor has the potential for integration into a microdevice for on-site and online monitoring. Such a sensor could be easily used by an inexperienced operator. In this work, the sensor was developed to detect the target with a very low concentration in blood samples. Different endocrine disrupted chemicals were used to compete for the target and to test the potential interference effect. Several human blood samples were utilized to investigate the sensor selectivity. Also, the recoverability of the sensors was studied. The detection of endocrine-disrupting chemicals by traditional methods was complicated, expensive and time-consuming. This research studied the affinity of eight EDCs to the testosterone sensor. In addition, the relation between the classification of chemicals depend on relative binding affinity (RBA) which calculated from other sources to the classification that were got from the sensor were compared to investigate any relationship between. Based on the results of the study, the chemicals were classified into 4 categories, according to their response: strong affinity (T), moderate (CHL, VIN, EST, and FLU), weak (BPA, DDE, and DCP), and inactive (DDT). Also, the percent activity showed that the selected chemicals had lower adsorption to the binding site of the sensor in comparison with testosterone. The results showed that 57 [percent] of our classification was identical with Fang classification which means that our sensor can be used as a pre method to study the affinity of EDCs binding to AR.

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Water Quality of Mahrut River, passing through Muqdadiyah, a city in Diyala, Iraq, was evaluated for irrigation using the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment Water Quality Index (CCME WQI). Water samples were collected from six sites during two seasons, summer and winter at 2010-2011. Index scores were determined for fifteen constituents (pH, EC, HCO 3 , Cl, Sodium Absorption Ratio (SAR), Soluble Sodium Percentage (SSP), Residual Sodium Carbonate (RSC), Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb, Mn, Ni and Zn). The results of the calculated CCME WQI indicated that water quality of Mahrut River was marginal condition for irrigation in the 1 st site while it was poor condition in the other sites. It is suggested that monitoring of the river is necessary for proper management to solve pollution problems in the river system.