Generic sensor platform based on electro-responsive molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles (e-NanoMIPs)

Abstract

The present research describes the design of robust electrochemical sensors based on electro-responsive molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles (e-MIPs). The e-MIPs, tagged with a redox probe, combine both recognition and reporting functions. This system replaces enzyme-mediator pairs used in traditional biosensors. The analyte recognition process relies on the generic actuation phenomenon when the polymer conformation of e-MIPs is changing in response to the presence of the template analyte. The analyte concentration is measured using voltammetric methods. In an exemplification of this technology, electrochemical sensors were developed for the determination of concentrations of trypsin, glucose, paracetamol, C4-homoserine lactone, and THC. The present technology allows for the possibility of producing generic, inexpensive, and robust disposable sensors for clinical, environmental, and forensic applications.

Biosensors: generic sensors using electroactive molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles

Robust generic electrochemical sensors have been designed based on electroactive molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles (e-MIPs), in which molecular imprinting (creating template-shaped recognition sites in polymers) is applied to nanoparticles. Commercial biosensor technology has made remarkable advances over the past decade, but glucose biosensors still account for the overwhelming majority of the world biosensor market. However, a team headed by Alvaro Garcia-Cruz and Sergey Piletsky at the University of Leicester, United Kingdom has succeeded in designing electrochemical sensors employing e-MIPs. The e-MIPs combine both recognition and reporting functions in a system that replaces the enzyme-mediator pairs used with conventional biosensors. Ease of production and cost efficiency are major technological advantages of this technology over traditional sensors. The authors believe that their system has considerable potential for producing generic, inexpensive, and robust disposable sensors for clinical, environmental, and forensic applications.