A Novel Synthesis of a Magnetic Porous Imprinted Polymer by Polyol Method Coupled with Electrochemical Biomimetic Sensor for the Detection of Folate in Food Samples

Abstract

The present study reports the development and application of a novel, sensitive, and selective voltammetric sensor for the quantitation of folate or vitamin B9 in foodstuffs. The sensor was made from magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers (MMIPs), which were synthesized by the core–shell method using magnetite nanoparticles obtained by the polyol method. The MMIP-based sensor was used for the selective and specific detection of folate in different food samples. The MMIP material was constructed using magnetic water-dispersible nanomaterial, which was prepared by immersing iron (III) acetylacetonate in tri-ethylene-glycol (TEG) solvent. The magnetic water-dispersible nanomaterial was then subjected to polymerization using allyl alcohol as a functional monomer, ethylene-glycol-dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as a cross-linking agent, and 2,2-Azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as a radical initiator. The proposed magnetic materials were characterized by Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), field emission gun scanning electron microscopy (FEG-SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) analysis. The quantification of folate was performed by square wave voltammetry under optimized conditions using 15 mg of MMIPs and 85 mg of carbon paste. The modified electrode presented a linear dynamic range (LDR) of 2.0–12 µmol L−1 and a limit of detection (LOD) of 1.0 × 10−7 mol L−1 in 0.1 mol L−1 acetate buffer solution (pH 4.0). The proposed sensor was successfully applied for folate detection in different food samples, where recovery percentages ranging from 93 to 103% were obtained. Finally, the results obtained from the analysis of selectivity showed that the modified biomimetic sensor is highly efficient for folate determination in real food samples. Adsorption tests were used to evaluate and compare the efficiency of the MMIPs and magnetic non-molecularly imprinted polymer (MNIPs)—used as control material, through the application of HPLC as a standard method.

Recent Trends and Application of Nanomaterial Based on Carbon Paste Electrodes: A Short Review

“…Magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer (MMIPs) from magnetite nanoparticles iron (III) acetylacetonate as a modifier of CPEs for the detection of folic acid or folate (vitamin B9) in different foodstuff samples has been investigated by Khan et al 61) . Folate is an important nutrient for the human body, especially for pregnant or breastfeeding women, to avoid birth abnormalities.…”

Design, synthesis, and characterization of molecularly imprinted solid phase extraction for alpha Mangostin analysis in blood sample

“…This technique is used to prepare polymers with specific recognition sites of template molecules having selectivity for an analyte. [16][17][18][19] The main advantages of MIP are its high selectivity and affinity for the target molecules used in the printing procedure. The printed polymers have higher physical toughness, strength, high temperature and pressure resistance, and inertness to acids, bases, metal ions, and organic solvents.…”

“…MIP is a new technique used in analytical procedures. This technique is used to prepare polymers with specific recognition sites of template molecules having selectivity for an analyte 16–19 . The main advantages of MIP are its high selectivity and affinity for the target molecules used in the printing procedure.…”

Electrochemical Analysis of Curcumin in Real Samples Using Intelligent Materials

“…However, the lack of selectivity in electrochemical sensors for complex samples, such as food, can be overcome by coupling them with molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs). MIPs act as receptors for electrochemical transduction in a cell, presenting a promising alternative [20,21].…”