Molecularly Imprinted Polymers Combined with Electrochemical Sensors for Food Contaminants Analysis

Abstract

Detection of relevant contaminants using screening approaches is a key issue to ensure food safety and respect for the regulatory limits established. Electrochemical sensors present several advantages such as rapidity; ease of use; possibility of on-site analysis and low cost. The lack of selectivity for electrochemical sensors working in complex samples as food may be overcome by coupling them with molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs). MIPs are synthetic materials that mimic biological receptors and are produced by the polymerization of functional monomers in presence of a target analyte. This paper critically reviews and discusses the recent progress in MIP-based electrochemical sensors for food safety. A brief introduction on MIPs and electrochemical sensors is given; followed by a discussion of the recent achievements for various MIPs-based electrochemical sensors for food contaminants analysis. Both electropolymerization and chemical synthesis of MIP-based electrochemical sensing are discussed as well as the relevant applications of MIPs used in sample preparation and then coupled to electrochemical analysis. Future perspectives and challenges have been eventually given.

Fast, sensitive and selective simultaneous determination of paraquat and glyphosate herbicides in water samples using a compact electrochemical sensor

“…Recently, molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) have gained attention as recognition elements for sensor development due to their high selectivity towards the target analyte and their advantages compared to biological/natural receptors: (i) cost-effectiveness and straightforwardness to synthesize, (ii) physical and chemical robustness at high temperature, pressure, and in low or high pH solutions, (iii) reusability, (iv) stability and (v) possibility for large scale production. 15–18 MIPs can be prepared in different shapes, such as monoliths, thin films, or nanoparticles, depending on the application. There are different polymerization strategies, including bulk imprinting and surface imprinting.…”

Current Scenario of Pathogen Detection Techniques in Agro-Food Sector

“…Molecular imprinting is a comparatively new technique that comprises the integration of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) with different transducer platforms such as optical, electrochemical, and mass-sensitive transducer platforms [ 75 , 76 , 77 ]. This technology can offer highly selective and sensitive detection of pathogens in an ultra-rapid manner [ 78 ].…”

Recent Trends in the Development of Carbon-Based Electrodes Modified with Molecularly Imprinted Polymers for Antibiotic Electroanalysis

“…MIPs are mechanically and chemically stable even at extreme pH and temperature values and, therefore, suitable for MIP-based sensors preparation even if they are single-use or multi-use [73,74]. Owing to these advantages, MIPs found applications in catalysis [75], immunoassays [30], separation [76] and sensing [77][78][79] procedures, in the pharmaceutical and medical fields [68,70,74,80], as well as in food [81,82] and environmental monitoring and control [68,70,80,83,84].…”