A nanosorbent consisting of a magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer and graphene oxide for multi-residue analysis of cephalosporins

A nanosorbent composed of magnetite nanoparticles, graphene oxide and a molecularly imprinted polymer (Fe3O4@SiO2-NH2/GOx/MIP) was synthesized and applied to simultaneous extraction of cephalexin, cefazolin and cefoperazone from milk. The use of magnetite nanoparticles enables fast extraction by using an external magnet. The use of graphene oxide increases extraction affinity, and the MIP improves selectivity. Extraction efficiency was optimized by investigating the effects of the template-to-monomer and cross-linker ratios, the desorption condition, extraction time, salting-out effect, stirring rate, sample volume and amount of adsorbent. The cephalosporins were quantified by using HPLC. Under optimum condition, the linear range of the method extends from 2.5 to 100 mu g L-1 for cephalexin and cefazolin, and from 5.0 to 100 mu g L-1 for cefoperazone. The limits of detection are 2.5 mu g L-1 for cephalexin and cefazolin, and 5 mu g L-1 for cefoperazone. The adsorbent was applied to the extraction of cephalosporins from milk, with recoveries in a range from 80.2 to 111.7% and with RSDs of <8.5%.