Molecularly Imprinted Polymer-Decorated Magnetite Nanoparticles for Selective Sulfonamide Detection

Abstract

Sulfonamides are known not only to be antimicrobial drugs that lead to antimicrobial resistance but also to be chemotherapeutic agents that may be allergenic and potentially carcinogenic, which represents a potentially hazardous compound once present in soil or water. Herein, a hybrid material based on molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP)-decorated magnetite nanoparticles for specific and label-free sulfonamide detection is reported. The composite has been characterized using different spectroscopic and imaging techniques. The magnetic properties of the composite are used to separate, preconcentrate, and manipulate the analyte which is selectively captured by the MIP onto the surface of the composite. Screen printed electrodes have been employed to monitor the impedance levels of the whole material, which is related to the amount of the captured analyte, via electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. This composite-based sensing system exhibits an extraordinary limit of detection of 1 × 10(-12) mol L(-1) (2.8 × 10(-4) ppb) (S/N = 3), which is close to those obtained with liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry, and it was demonstrated to screen sulfamethoxazole in a complex matrix such as seawater, where according to the literature sulfonamides content is minimum compared with other environmental samples.

Imprinting Technology in Electrochemical Biomimetic Sensors

“…This device was described by Zamora-Gálvez and co-authors for sulfonamide detection with a LOD of 1 × 10 −12 mol/L with similar results to the obtained by liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry [92]. Another technique to improve the sensitivity of MIP sensors is the polymerization of the electroactive materials concomitantly with substrate-guided dopant immobilization [136].…”

“…The imprinted material can be obtained through the synthesis of a thin polymer film or by using a substrate (e.g., nanoparticles, nanotubes) that functions as support to attach the template to its surface with following polymerization around it [1,2,92,93]. The imprinted binding sites are positioned nearby the surface of the outer polymer layer, avoiding limited mass transfer and enabling easy template removal [93,94].…”

Electrochemical sensing using magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer particles previously captured by a magneto-sensor

“…These are more complex and more expensive systems, albeit in some cases with other advantages. There has also been innovation in terms of the electrochemical technique used, per example, impedimetric measurements gave origin to sensible results, yet with longer times of analysis and added complications to data interpretation [44]. Nevertheless, the main difference from this work to the others is its analytical configuration, i.e.…”

Recent Advances in Electrochemical Sensors Based on Molecularly Imprinted Polymers and Nanomaterials

“…In this context, Zamora‐Glavez et al. reported a highly sensitive and selective impedimetric sensor for the detection of sulfonamides, which have been widely employed as antibacterial whether in human or animal medicine but considered recently as emerging pollutants . Owing the high selectivity towards sulfamethoxazole (SMX), easiness of separation and pre‐concentration of the analyte from the studied sample, the synthesized MagMIPs were drop‐coated onto the surface of the working electrode of homemade screen‐printed carbon electrode (SPCE).…”