Molecularly Imprinted Polymer-Based Electrogenerated Chemiluminescence Sensor for Sensitive and Selective Fentanyl...

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Forensic Science

Background:

• Fentanyl's rising prevalence necessitates sensitive and selective detection methods.
• Opioid overdose fatalities highlight the urgent need for advanced analytical tools.
• Current detection methods may lack the required sensitivity or selectivity for fentanyl.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP)-based electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) sensor for fentanyl detection.
• To achieve ultrasensitive and selective quantification of fentanyl.
• To establish a reliable platform for forensic analysis of illicit fentanyl.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a MIP sensor via electropolymerization of 4-aminobenzoic acid on a glassy carbon electrode with fentanyl as the template.
• Utilizing an anodic coreactant pathway for ECL signal transduction with [Ru(bpy)3]2+.
• Optimization of fabrication and operational parameters, supported by density functional theory (DFT) analysis.

Main Results:

• The MIP-ECL sensor demonstrated a limit of detection of approximately 1 μM (3.4 ng).
• The sensor exhibited high selectivity for fentanyl over structurally similar interferents.
• Three distinct linear dynamic ranges were observed for fentanyl quantification.

Conclusions:

• The developed MIP-ECL sensor is a highly sensitive and selective platform for fentanyl detection.
• The sensor shows excellent reproducibility and stability, suitable for forensic applications.
• This technology offers a promising solution for rapid analysis of illicit fentanyl in public health and forensic settings.