All-solid-state chip utilizing molecular imprinted polymer for erythromycin detection in milk samples: Printed...

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Electrochemistry
• Materials Science

Background:

• Accurate detection of antibiotic residues like erythromycin (ERY) in milk is vital for food safety and public health.
• Existing methods for ERY detection can be complex, time-consuming, or require specialized equipment.
• Development of rapid, sensitive, and selective sensors for on-site analysis is highly desirable.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a miniaturized, all-solid-state potentiometric sensor for the determination of erythromycin (ERY) residues in commercial milk samples.
• To utilize molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) for selective ERY recognition within a complex dairy matrix.
• To assess the sensor's performance, including sensitivity, accuracy, selectivity, and stability for practical application.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a printed circuit board (PCB) based potentiometric sensor integrated with a 3.5-mm audio plug interface.
• Modification of the working electrode with a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) selective for erythromycin.
• Incorporation of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) nano-dispersion to enhance electrode stability.
• Potentiometric measurements to determine ERY concentration in milk samples.

Main Results:

• The developed sensor achieved a limit of detection (LOD) of 6.6 × 10^-8 M for ERY within a linear range of 1 × 10^-7 to 1 × 10^-3 M.
• High accuracy (99.9% ± 2.6%) and satisfactory repeatability (1.6%) and reproducibility (5.0%) were demonstrated.
• The sensor exhibited excellent selectivity against common antibiotic classes and inorganic ions found in milk.

Conclusions:

• The PCB-based potentiometric sensor offers a feasible, miniaturized, and all-solid-state solution for sensitive and selective erythromycin detection in milk.
• The MIP-based design ensures high specificity, while the integrated structure simplifies potential measurements.
• This sensor technology holds promise for routine quality control and safety assessment of dairy products.