Non-enzymatic lactose molecularly imprinted sensor based on disposable graphite paper electrode

Area of Science:

• Electrochemistry
• Materials Science
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Lactose (LAC) is a key sugar in milk and dairy, crucial for quality control and health assessment.
• Accurate and sensitive detection methods for LAC are vital in food industries and biomedical fields.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an innovative imprinted voltammetric sensor for sensitive and selective lactose detection.
• To optimize the sensor performance using multivariate statistical methods.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) sensor using electropolymerized pyrrole (Py) on a graphite paper electrode (PE).
• Electrosynthesis of polypyrrole (PPy) in the presence of LAC as the template molecule.
• Optimization of sensor performance using Plackett-Burman and central composite designs.
• Voltammetric detection of LAC in milk samples.

Main Results:

• The developed sensor demonstrated high sensitivity and selectivity for LAC detection.
• Achieved two dynamic linear ranges (1.0-10 nmol L⁻¹ and 25-125 nmol L⁻¹) with a low detection limit of 0.88 nmol L⁻¹.
• The sensor exhibited excellent stability, reproducibility, and repeatability, with selective recognition of LAC over similar molecules.

Conclusions:

• The PPy/PE imprinted sensor is highly promising for sensitive and selective lactose detection.
• This method offers a valuable tool for LAC quantification in real-world applications like milk analysis.