Development of an imprinted polymeric sensor with dual sensing property for trace level estimation of zinc and...

Using virtuousness of multi-template imprinting and selectivity of single-template imprinting, for the first time, we have prepared an imprinted polymer matrix that can detect two target analyte viz., Zn(2+) and arginine in single motif. For the preparation of imprinted polymer network, a new monomer {2-acrylamido-4-(methylthio)butanoic acid} was synthesized, which gives a biocompatible polymer network. Herein, the synthesized imprinted polymer mixed with multi-walled carbon nanotubes was immobilized onto the surface of platinum electrode to develop an electrochemical sensor for quantitative recognition of Zn(2+) and arginine using differential pulse voltammetry. Cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and chronocoulometric analysis were also performed to study the kinetics of zinc-arginine complex. Under the optimal conditions the linear range of the calibration curve for Zn(2+) and arginine was 0.04-310.0ngmL(-1) and 0.04-235.0ngmL(-1), with the detection limit of 18.0 and 15.0pgmL(-1). The sensor has been successfully applied to the determination of Zn(2+) and arginine in water, food, and pharmaceutical samples and achieved high sensitivity and selectivity.