A molecularly imprinted fiber array solid-phase microextraction strategy for simultaneous detection of multiple...

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Materials Science

Background:

• Estrogen analysis in food is crucial for safety and quality control.
• Existing methods for estrogen detection can lack selectivity and sensitivity.
• Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) offer potential for selective analyte recognition.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a selective enrichment material for accurate estrogen analysis in food samples.
• To create a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) fiber array with high adsorption capacity.
• To improve the sensitivity and selectivity of trace estrogen detection in complex matrices.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a homemade MIP fiber array using 17β-estradiol as the template via in situ polymerization.
• Characterization of the MIP using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller theory.
• Optimization of extraction conditions including solvent, time, ionic strength, and pH.
• Coupling the MIP-SPME fiber array with high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection for analysis.

Main Results:

• The MIP fiber array demonstrated a 145-fold improvement in extraction capacity compared to commercial polyacrylate (PA).
• High adsorption capacity for 17β-estradiol and its analogues (estrone, bisphenol F, B, A) with enrichment factors of 99.60-133.16.
• Satisfactory recoveries (74.75-119.41%) and low relative standard deviations (<9.42%) in milk and yogurt samples.
• Achieved a limit of detection of 0.33 μg L⁻¹ for simultaneous determination of trace estrogens.

Conclusions:

• The developed MIP-SPME fiber array is an effective strategy for selective and sensitive determination of trace estrogens in food.
• The method offers improved adsorption capacity and selectivity for target analytes in complex food matrices.
• This approach provides a valuable tool for accurate estrogen analysis in food safety applications.