A Single-chain Templated Polymer-based Target Receptor as a New Platform for Label-free Selective Electrochemical...

Area of Science:

• Polymer Chemistry
• Electrochemistry
• Chemical Sensing

Background:

• Developing selective and sensitive chemical sensors is crucial for various applications.
• Label-free detection methods reduce sample complexity and cost.
• Molecular imprinting offers a pathway to create highly specific recognition sites within polymers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel single-chain polymer-based chemical receptor for label-free electrochemical detection.
• To achieve high selectivity in analyte detection using a functionalized polymer.
• To investigate the correlation between polymer conformation changes and electrochemical signals.

Main Methods:

• Synthesized a single-chain polymer incorporating poly-N-isopropylacrylamide (pNIPAM), functional monomers, and ferrocene redox reporters.
• Imprinted the polymer with 4-nitrophenol as the template molecule.
• Anchored the polymer onto gold electrode surfaces for electrochemical measurements.

Main Results:

• The developed polymer receptor demonstrated high selectivity for the target analyte.
• Label-free electrochemical detection was achieved, showing distinct signal changes upon analyte binding.
• Observed changes in electrochemical signals confirmed analyte recognition and polymer conformational changes (extended to collapsed phase).

Conclusions:

• The novel single-chain polymer receptor facilitates selective, label-free electrochemical sensing.
• Analyte binding induces a predictable polymer conformational change, detectable electrochemically.
• This approach offers a promising platform for developing advanced chemical sensors.