Molecularly imprinted polymer-based solid-phase microextraction fiber coupled with molecularly imprinted...

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) deficiency, leading to scurvy, requires sensitive detection methods.
• Current techniques for measuring serum ascorbic acid are often complex or lack the necessary sensitivity for ultratrace levels.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel, easy-to-use, rapid, and inexpensive technique for measuring serum ascorbic acid at ultratrace levels.
• To create a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP)-coated solid-phase microextraction (SPME) fiber for enhanced ascorbic acid detection.

Main Methods:

• Preparation of a MIP-coated SPME fiber using ascorbic acid as the template molecule.
• Coupling the MIP-coated fiber with a complementary MIP-sensor for enhanced preconcentration.
• Investigating the characteristics and applications of the MIP-coated fiber in aqueous, blood serum, and pharmaceutical samples.

Main Results:

• The MIP-coated fiber demonstrated quantitative extraction yield for ascorbic acid.
• Achieved a low detection limit of 0.0396 ng mL(-1) with a relative standard deviation (RSD) of 2.3% and a signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) of 3.
• The method showed no non-specific false positive results or cross-reactivity, ensuring high specificity.

Conclusions:

• The developed MIP-coated SPME fiber coupled with a MIP-sensor provides a highly sensitive and specific method for ultratrace ascorbic acid measurement.
• This technique is robust, inexpensive, and suitable for diagnosing hypovitaminosis C and scurvy in various sample types.