New potentiometric sensor based on molecularly imprinted nanoparticles for cocaine detection

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Accurate and sensitive detection of cocaine is crucial for clinical diagnostics and forensic analysis.
• Existing detection methods may have limitations in sensitivity, selectivity, or sample throughput.
• Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) offer a promising platform for creating selective recognition elements.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel potentiometric sensor for cocaine detection.
• To optimize polymer composition and synthesis protocols for high-affinity cocaine recognition.
• To evaluate the sensor's performance in quantifying cocaine in complex biological matrices like blood serum.

Main Methods:

• Solid-phase imprinting method to produce molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles (nanoMIPs).
• Molecular modeling to optimize polymer composition for high cocaine affinity.
• Synthesis of polymers via chemical polymerization in water and UV-initiated polymerization in organic solvent.
• Incorporation of nanoMIPs into a PVC matrix to form an ion-selective membrane for a potentiometric transducer.

Main Results:

• Synthesized nanoMIPs exhibited high affinity for cocaine, with dissociation constants ranging from 0.6 nM to 5.3 nM.
• Polymers synthesized in organic solvent using acrylamide showed the highest yield and affinity.
• The developed potentiometric sensor successfully quantified cocaine in blood serum samples within the concentration range of 1 nM to 1 mM.

Conclusions:

• Molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles are effective recognition elements for cocaine detection.
• The developed potentiometric sensor demonstrates high sensitivity and selectivity for cocaine.
• This sensor technology holds potential for real-time, on-site cocaine quantification in biological samples.