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Updated: Feb 22, 2026
Ultrasensitive Detection of Biomarkers by Using a Molecular Imprinting Based Capacitive Biosensor
Published on: February 16, 2018
Simultaneous phase-inversion and imprinting based sensor for highly sensitive and selective detection of bisphenol A
Qian Yang1, Xiaqing Wu1, Hailong Peng2
1State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330047, China; Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes and Ecological Remediation, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, China.
A new sensor using molecularly imprinted films (MIFs) and wet phase inversion (WPI) enables highly sensitive electrochemical detection of bisphenol A (BPA). This method offers excellent selectivity and real-world applicability for BPA analysis.
Area of Science:
- Electrochemistry
- Materials Science
- Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- Bisphenol A (BPA) is an endocrine-disrupting chemical with potential health risks.
- Development of selective and sensitive detection methods for BPA is crucial for environmental and health monitoring.
- Existing detection methods may lack sensitivity, selectivity, or cost-effectiveness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel molecularly imprinted film (MIF) sensor for highly selective and sensitive electrochemical detection of bisphenol A (BPA).
- To utilize wet phase inversion (WPI) for facile fabrication of the MIF on a Ti/TiO2 electrode.
- To evaluate the sensor's performance, including linearity, detection limit, selectivity, and applicability to real samples.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of MIFs on a Ti/TiO2 electrode surface via wet phase inversion (WPI).
- Fabrication involved casting a precursor polymer (p(AN-co-AA)) with BPA template onto the electrode, followed by immersion in water for simultaneous precipitation and imprinting.
- Electrochemical detection of BPA using amperometry based on the rebinding of BPA to imprinted sites.
Main Results:
- The Ti/TiO2/MIFs sensor demonstrated a wide linear range (4.4 nM–0.13 mM) and a low detection limit of 1.3 nM for BPA.
- Excellent recognition selectivity for BPA over its analogues was achieved.
- The sensor showed successful application in detecting BPA in seawater and paper cup samples with high recoveries (86–110%) and low relative standard deviations (1.3–3.2%).
Conclusions:
- The developed Ti/TiO2/MIFs sensor provides a facile, rapid, and cost-effective method for ultrasensitive electrochemical detection of BPA.
- The MIFs-based approach using WPI shows significant potential for the detection of various targeted compounds.
- This technology is applicable for analyzing BPA in complex matrices like seawater and consumer products.
