Development of a novel sensitive molecularly imprinted polymer sensor based on electropolymerization of a microporous-metal-organic framework for tetracycline detection in honey

Electrochemical sensor for the detection of tetracycline, based on a gold electrode surface modified with a molecularly imprinted polymer microporous-metal-organic framework, is described. Imprinted gold nanoparticles composites are assembled on Au surfaces by the electropolymerization of p-aminothiophenol functionalized gold nanoparticles in the presence of the imprint molecule. The electrochemical sensor was characterized by linear sweep voltammetry in the presence of hexacyanoferrate/ hexacyanoferrite as redox probe. In order to achieve optimal preconcentration, the influence of various parameters such as extraction and incubation times, washing and eluting solutions was evaluated. The sensor showed a linear range from 224 fM to 22.4 nM and a limit of detection of 0.22 fM. The proposed method was successfully applied to determine tetracycline in honey. The recoveries of tetracycline are in the range of 101.8 %-106.0 % with an RSD <8.3%. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.