Yukun Yang

Electrochemical sensor based on molecularly imprinted polymer film via sol-gel technology and multi-walled carbon nanotubes-chitosan functional layer for sensitive determination of quinoxaline-2-carboxylic acid.

Quinoxaline-2-carboxylic acid (QCA) is difficult to measure since only trace levels are present in commercial meat products. In this study, a rapid, sensitive and selective molecularly imprinted electrochemical sensor for QCA determination was successfully constructed by combination of a novel modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The GCE was fabricated via stepwise modification of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs)-chitosan (CS) functional composite and a sol-gel molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) film on the surface. MWNTs-CS composite was used to enhance the electron transfer rate and expand electrode surface area, and consequently amplify QCA reduction electrochemical response. The imprinted mechanism and experimental parameters affecting the performance of MIP film were discussed in detail. The resulting MIP/sol-gel/MWNTs-CS/GCE was characterized using various electrochemical methods involving cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and DPV. The sensor using MIP/sol-gel/MWNTs-CS/GCE as working electrode showed a linear current response to the target QCA concentration in the wide range from 2.0×10(-6) to 1.0×10(-3)molL(-1) with a low detection limit of 4.4×10(-7)molL(-1) (S/N=3). The established sensor with excellent reproductivity and stability was applied to evaluate commercial pork products. At five concentration levels, the recoveries and standard deviations were calculated as 93.5-98.6% and 1.7-3.3%, respectively, suggesting the proposed sensor is promising for the accurate quantification of QCA at trace levels in meat samples.

A novel dual-function molecularly imprinted polymer on CdTe/ZnS quantum dots for highly selective and sensitive determination of ractopamine

A novel dual-function material was synthesized by anchoring a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) layer on CdTe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) using a sol-gel with surface imprinting. The material exhibited highly selective and sensitive determination of ractopamine (RAC) through spectrofluorometry and solid-phase extraction (SPE) coupled with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). A series of adsorption experiments revealed that the material showed high selectivity, good adsorption capacity and a fast mass transfer rate. Fluorescence from the MIP-coated QDs was more strongly quenched by RAC than that of the non-imprinted polymer, which indicated that the MIP-coated QDs acted as a fluorescence sensing material could recognize RAC. In addition, the MIP-coated QDs as a sorbent was also shown to be promising for SPE coupled with HPLC for the determination of trace RAC in feeding stuffs and pork samples. Under optimal conditions, the spectrofluorometry and SPE-HPLC methods using the MIP-coated QDs had linear ranges of 5.00×10(-10)-3.55×10(-7) and 1.50×10(-10)-8.90×10(-8) mol L(-1), respectively, with limits of detection of 1.47×10(-10) and 8.30×10(-11) mol L(-1), the relative standard deviations for six repeat experiments of RAC (2.90×10(-9) mol L(-1)) were below 2.83% and 7.11%.

Molecularly imprinted quartz crystal microbalance sensor based on poly(o-aminothiophenol) membrane and Au nanoparticles for ractopamine determination

A molecularly imprinted quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) sensor for ractopamine (RAC) detection was developed by electrodepositing a poly-o-aminothiophenol membrane on an Au electrode surface modified by self-assembled Au nanoparticles (AuNPs). The modified electrodes were characterized by cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. This molecularly imprinted QCM sensor showed good frequency response in RAC binding measurements and the introduction of AuNPs demonstrated performance improvements. Frequency shifts were found to be proportional to concentration of RAC in the range of 2.5×10(-6) to 1.5×10(-4) mol L(-1) with a detection limit of 1.17×10(-6) mol L(-1) (S/N=3). The sensor showed a good selective affinity for RAC (selectivity coefficient >3) compared with similar molecules and good reproducibility and long-term stability. This research has combined the advantages of high specific surface area of AuNPs, high selectivity from molecularly imprinted electrodeposited membrane and high sensitivity from quartz crystal microgravimetry. In addition, the modified electrode sensor was successfully applied to determine RAC residues in spiked swine feed samples with satisfactory recoveries ranging from 87.7 to 95.2%.

Upconversion fluorescence metal-organic frameworks thermo-sensitive imprinted polymer for enrichment and sensing protein

A novel fluorescence material with thermo-sensitive for the enrichment and sensing of protein was successfully prepared by combining molecular imprinting technology with upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). Herein, the UCNPs acted as signal reporter for composite materials because of its excellent fluorescence property and chemical stability. MOFs were introduced to molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) due to its high specific surface area which increases the rate of mass transfer relative to that of traditional bulk MIP. The thermo-sensitive imprinted material which allows for swelling and shrinking with response to temperature changes was prepared by choosing Bovine hemoglobin (BHB) as the template, N-isopropyl acrylamide (NIPAAM) as the temperature-sensitive functional monomer and N,N-methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) as the cross-linker. The recognition characterizations of imprinted material-coated UCNPs/MOFs (UCNPs/MOFs/MIP) were evaluated, and the results showed that the fluorescence intensity of UCNPs/MOFs/MIP reduced gradually with the increase of BHB concentration. The fluorescence material was response to the temperature. The adsorption capacity was as much as 167.6 mg/g at 28°C and 101.2mg/g at 44°C, which was higher than that of traditional MIP. Therefore, this new fluorescence material for enrichment and sensing protein is very promising for future applications.

Prussian blue mediated amplification combined with signal enhancement of ordered mesoporous carbon for ultrasensitive and specific quantification of metolcarb by a three-dimensional molecularly imprinted electrochemical sensor.

In this work, we presented a three-dimensional (3D) molecularly imprinted electrochemical sensor (MIECS) with novel strategy for ultrasensitive and specific quantification of metolcarb based on prussian blue (PB) mediated amplification combined with signal enhancement of ordered mesoporous carbon. The molecularly imprinted polymers were synthesized by electrochemically induced redox polymerization of para aminobenzoic acid (p-ABA) in the presence of template metolcarb. Ordered mesoporous carbon material (CMK-3) was introduced to enhance the electrochemical response by improving the structure of the modified electrodes and facilitating charge transfer processes of PB which was used as an inherent electrochemical active probe. The modification process for the working electrodes of the MIECS was characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and cyclic voltammetry (CV), and several important parameters controlling the performance of the MIECS were investigated and optimized in detail. The MIECS with 3D structure had the advantages of ease of preparation, high porous surface structure, speedy response, ultrasensitivity, selectivity, reliable stability, good reproducibility and repeatability. Under the optimal conditions, the MIECS offered an excellent current response for metolcarb in the linear response range of 5.0 × 10(-10)-1.0 × 10(-4) mol L(-1) and the limit of detection (LOD) was calculated to be 9.3 × 10 (-11)mol L(-1) (S/N = 3). The proposed MIECS has been successfully applied for the determination of metolcarb in real samples with satisfactory recoveries. Furthermore, the construction route of this ultrasensitive 3D MIECS may provide a guideline for the determination of non-electroactive analytes in environmental control and food safety.

Sensitive and selective electrochemical determination of quinoxaline-2-carboxylic acid based on bilayer of novel poly(pyrrole) functional composite using one-step electro-polymerization and molecularly imprinted poly(o-phenylenediamine).

A facile and efficient molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) recognition element of electrochemical sensor was fabricated by directly electro-polymerizing monomer o-phenylenediamine (oPD) in the presence of template quinoxaline-2-carboxylic acid (QCA), based on one-step controllable electrochemical modification of poly(pyrrole)-graphene oxide-binuclear phthalocyanine cobalt (II) sulphonate (PPY-GO-BiCoPc) functional composite on glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The MIP film coated on PPY-GO-BiCoPc functional composite decorated GCE (MIP/PPY-GO-BiCoPc/GCE) was presented for the first time. The synergistic effect and electro-catalytic activity toward QCA redox of PPY-GO-BiCoPc functional composite were discussed using various contrast tests. Also, the effect of experimental variables on the current response such as, electro-polymerization cycles, template/monomer ratio, elution condition for template removal, pH of the supporting electrolyte and accumulation time, were investigated in detail. Under the optimized conditions, the proposed MIP sensor possessed a fast rebinding dynamics and an excellent recognition capacity to QCA, while the anodic current response of square wave voltammetry (SWV) was well-proportional to the concentration of QCA in the range of 1.0×10(-8)-1.0×10(-4) and 1.0×10(-4)-5.0×10(-4) mol L(-1) with a low detection limit of 2.1 nmol L(-1). The established sensor was applied successfully to determine QCA in commercial pork and chicken muscle samples with acceptable recoveries (91.6-98.2%) and satisfactory precision (1.9-3.5% of SD), demonstrating a promising feature for applying the MIP sensor to the measurement of QCA in real samples.

Imprinting of molecular recognition sites combined with π-donor-acceptor interactions using bis-aniline-crosslinked Au-CdSe/ZnS nanoparticles array on electrodes: Development of electrochemiluminescence sensor for the ultrasensitive and selective detection of 2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid.

A novel strategy is reported for the fabrication of bis-aniline-crosslinked Au nanoparticles (NPs)-CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) array composite by facil one-step co-electropolymerization of thioaniline-functionalized AuNPs and thioaniline-functionalized CdSe/ZnS QDs onto thioaniline-functionalized Au elctrodes (AuE). Stable and enhanced cathodic electrochemiluminescence (ECL) of CdSe/ZnS QDs is observed on the modified electrode in neutral solution, suggesting promising applications in ECL sensing. An advanced ECL sensor is explored for detection of 2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid (MCPA) which quenches the ECL signal through electron-transfer pathway. The sensitive determination of MCPA with limit of detection (LOD) of 2.2 nmolL(-1) (S/N=3) is achieved by π-donor-acceptor interactions between MCPA and the bis-aniline bridging units. Impressively, the imprinting of molecular recognition sites into the bis-aniline-crosslinked AuNPs-CdSe/ZnS QDs array yields a functionalized electrode with an extremely sensitive response to MCPA in a linear range of 10 pmolL(-1)-50 μmolL(-1) with a LOD of 4.3 pmolL(-1 ()S/N=3). The proposed ECL sensor with high sensitivity, good selectivity, reproducibility and stability has been successfully applied for the determination of MCPA in real samples with satisfactory recoveries. In this study, ECL sensor combined the merits of QDs-ECL and molecularly imprinting technology is reported for the first time. The developed ECL sensor holds great promise for the fabrication of QDs-based ECL sensors with improved sensitivity and furthermore opens the door to wide applications of QDs-based ECL in food safety and environmental monitoring.

A novel C18 reversed phase organic–silica hybrid cationic monolithic capillary column with an ionic liquid as an organic monomer via a “one-pot” approach for capillary electrochromatography

A novel C18 reversed phase (RP) organic–silica hybrid cationic monolithic capillary column with an ionic liquid (IL) as organic monomer has been fabricated by a “one-pot” approach for capillary electrochromatography (CEC). Through copolymerization, the IL, 1-vinyl-3-octadecylimidazolium bromide (VC18HIm+Br−), was successfully anchored into the monolithic matrix which was formed through polycondensation of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and triethoxyvinylsilane (VTES). Several experimental variables, which were essential to the preparation of the columns, such as the TEOS/VTES ratio, the content of H2O and the supermolecule template, the amount of IL and the polycondensation temperature were studied in detail, and three control columns were prepared to compare with this prepared novel hybrid monolithic column. Separation of various neutral, charged and basic analytes as well as protein samples on the VC18HIm+Br− hybrid monolithic column and control columns was achieved by CEC. It was found that the prepared hybrid monolithic column possessed its own superiority in separation. Besides, the retention mechanism of neutral analytes on this column was a typical reversed phase chromatographic retention mechanism, and the separation of charged compounds depended on the combination of electrophoretic mobility, ionic exchange interaction and hydrophobic interaction. Moreover, the prepared hybrid monolithic column also settled the problem of peak tailing for separating the basic analytes, and the separation of egg white demonstrated its potential in proteome analysis.

Preparation and evaluation of novel surface molecularly imprinted polymers by sol–gel process for online solid-phase extraction coupled with high performance liquid chromatography to detect trace patulin in fruit derived products

A new-type of surface molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) for the selective recognition of trace contaminant mycotoxin patulin (PAT) was prepared using oxindole as the dummy template by means of sol–gel polymerization on activated silica beads. Synthesis conditions were optimized by changing some factors to obtain MIPs with controllable adsorption capacity, selectivity and hardness. The prepared MIPs were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectrometry and scanning electron microscopy, and its adsorption properties were evaluated by static and dynamic adsorption tests. These proved that the prepared MIPs showed excellent affinity, high selectivity adsorption and fast kinetics towards PAT. Then the imprinted material was employed as an online solid-phase extraction (SPE) sorbent for the separation and concentration of PAT in food samples, which was subsequently detected by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The parameters of online MIPs based SPE-HPLC including the pH of loading sample, the loading flow rate and eluting time were optimized in detail. The factor of enrichment and the limit of detection (S/N = 3) of the established MIPs-SPE-HPLC method were 125 and 0.5 μg L−1, respectively. The linear range (r2 > 0.990) was 2–40 μg L−1, and the precision of peak area (relative standard deviation, RSD) of nine consecutive enrichments for 2.0 μg L−1 PAT detection was 7.80%. PAT in apple juice, pear juice, haw juice and haw flakes was determined at three spiked levels with recoveries ranging from 60.13 to 97.60%, suggesting the established MIPs-SPE-HPLC method is promising for the accurate quantification of PAT at trace levels in fruit derived samples.