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Ultrasensitive Detection of Biomarkers by Using a Molecular Imprinting Based Capacitive Biosensor
Published on: February 16, 2018
Hybrid molecularly imprinted polymer for amoxicillin detection
Akinrinade George Ayankojo1, Jekaterina Reut1, Andres Öpik1
1Department of Materials and Environmental Technology, Tallinn University of Technology, Ehitajate tee 5, 19086 Tallinn, Estonia.
A new sensor using a hybrid polymer film can detect the antibiotic amoxicillin (AMO) in water at very low levels. This method offers a stable and reproducible way to monitor environmental antibiotic contamination.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Chemistry
- Analytical Chemistry
- Materials Science
Background:
- Antibiotic presence in aquatic environments poses ecological risks.
- Accurate detection of antibiotic micropollutants is crucial for environmental monitoring.
- Label-free sensing platforms combined with molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) offer potential for real-time antibiotic monitoring.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel analytical method for sensitive and selective amoxicillin (AMO) detection.
- To integrate a hybrid organic-inorganic MIP film with a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor.
- To evaluate the performance of the developed sensor for AMO detection in aquatic media.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of a hybrid organic-inorganic MIP film (AMO-MIP) using sol-gel techniques with methacrylamide (MAAM), tetraethoxysilane (TEOS), and vinyltrimethoxysilane (VTMOS).
- Integration of the AMO-MIP film with a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensing platform.
- Characterization of the AMO-MIP film's binding capacity and selectivity compared to a non-imprinted polymer (NIP).
- Evaluation of the sensor's limit of detection (LoD), ability to discriminate AMO from similar molecules, reproducibility, and stability.
Main Results:
- The AMO-MIP film exhibited approximately 16 times higher binding capacity for AMO compared to the NIP.
- The SPR sensor achieved a limit of detection (LoD) as low as 73 pM for AMO.
- The sensor demonstrated selectivity for AMO over structurally similar molecules in both buffer and tap water.
- The sensor showed good reproducibility over multiple rebinding-regeneration cycles and stability for up to 6 months at room temperature.
Conclusions:
- A hybrid organic-inorganic MIP film integrated with SPR is an effective tool for sensitive and selective amoxicillin detection.
- The developed sensor enables real-time monitoring of amoxicillin in aquatic environments.
- The sensor's stability and reproducibility support its practical application in environmental monitoring programs.
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