Development of Electrochemical Platform Based on Molecularly Imprinted Poly(methacrylic acid) Grafted on Iniferter-modified Carbon Nanotubes for 17β-estradiol Determination in Water Samples

This paper describes the development of a new electrochemical sensor for 17 beta-estradiol (E2) determination based on glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with molecularly imprinted polymer grafted onto iniferter-multiwall carbon nanotubes surface (MIP-MWCNT) and dihexadecyl-hydrogen-phosphate (DHP). The electrochemical method was based on closed-circuit preconcentration of E2 in 0.1 mol L-1 phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) during 500 s. Upon preconcentration, E2 was determined by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) exhibiting a limit of detection of 0.01 mu mol L-1. The sensor exhibited higher selectivity toward E2 and it was applied for E2 determination in natural water samples, with accuracy attested by HPLC-DAD.

Automated summary

This study introduces a new electrochemical sensor for the determination of 17 beta-estradiol, which exhibits high selectivity and accuracy in detecting the compound in natural water samples. The sensor was developed by modifying a glassy carbon electrode with molecularly imprinted polymer grafted onto iniferter-multiwall carbon nanotubes surface and dihexadecyl-hydrogen-phosphate. Preconcentration of the compound followed by differential pulse voltammetry was used for detection, with a limit of detection of 0.01 mu mol L-1.