Detection of L‐nicotine with dissipation mode quartz crystal microbalance using molecular imprinted polymers

Abstract

Phone: þ32 (0) 11 26 88 95, Fax: þ32 (0) 11 26 88 99 Synthetic materials with imprinted nanocavities can act as highly selective tailor-made artificial receptors. Implementing these materials in a piezoelectric sensing device can offer fast and straightforward detection together with high sensitivity. Lnicotine, a major addictive substance in cigarettes is used as target molecule. The synthetic receptors for L-nicotine are made via the molecular imprinting technique. The target molecule is added to a monomer mixture containing initiator and this mixture is polymerized with heat. Subsequently, microparticles are obtained by crushing the bulk molecular imprinted polymers (MIPs), which are then immobilized on thin films of polyvinyl chloride. Using Quartz crystal microbalance, Lnicotine could be detected in the submicromolar range and the selectivity of the sensors was verified by reference measurements with L-cotinine. The effectiveness of the sensor was also tested for different aqueous fluids at different pH. It was found that MIPs bind 4.03 times more L-nicotine than non-imprinted polymer in water and 1.99 times more in 0.1Â phosphate buffer saline at pH 9.

Molecular Imprinting Technology in Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM) Sensors

“…Alenus et al have published two different studies on the detection of l -nicotine. One of the studies is in aqueous solution [26] while the other one is in a biological sample [27]. Although many researchers have studied l -nicotine template molecules in aqueous solution, Alenus et al studied the detection of l -nicotine in saliva and urine.…”

A dual-template biomimetic molecularly imprinted dendrimer-based piezoelectric sensor for ultratrace analysis of organochlorine pesticides

“…As an advanced approach, QCM (based on micro-gravimetric measurements) and molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) have been combined together to design sensors for the selective and sensitive sensing of various molecules [16][17][18][19][20].…”

Micro-patterned molecularly imprinted polymer structures on functionalized diamond-coated substrates for testosterone detection

“…It is also crucial that the coated MIP particles on the substrate need to be firmly attached to the substrate in order to avoid problems during the sensor measurements. In this regard, particles have been immobilized on the biosensor substrate through linker molecules or by the use of an aforementioned adhesive polymer layer (Alenus et al 2012;Kamra et al 2015;Peeters et al 2012). Although these immobilization methods have proven their applicability, a stable coupling between the MIP particle and the substrate which is strong enough to endure the dynamic sensor measurement conditions and ensure sensor regeneration for reusability remains challenging.…”