Molecularly imprinted electrochemical aptasensor for the attomolar detection of bisphenol A

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were electrodeposited on the surface of a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) and then treated with a mixture of a thiolated DNA sequence (p-63; with high affinity for bisphenol A) and free bisphenol A (BPÀ). Pyrrole was then electropolymerizaed on the surface of the GCE to entrap the BPA@p-63 complex. BPA is then extracted with acetic acid solution to obtain MIP cavities where the embedded DNA sequence acts as the binding site for BPA. Scanning electron microscopy, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry were employed to characterize the surface of the modified GCE. Under the optimum conditions, the assay has a dynamic range that covers the 0.5 fM to 5 pM BPA concentration range and an 80 aM detection limit. It was applied to the quantitation of BPA in (spiked) milk, milk powder and water samples and gave acceptable recoveries. Graphical Abstract Schematic of the procedure for aptamer-based detection of BPA using unique features of the aptamer-based modified electrodes and MIP-based sensors. This assay has high sensitivity and good selectivity. It can presumably be transferred to other detection schemes for small molecules.