Ultrasensitive and Highly Selective Detection of Bisphenol a Using Core-Shell Magnetic Molecularly Imprinted Quantum Dots Electrochemiluminescent Probe

The main aim of this work was to develop a magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer (MMIP)-based quantum dots electrochemiluminescent (ECL) probe for the ultrasensitive and highly selective detection of bisphenol A (BPA). The prepared core-shell Fe3O4@SiO2 exhibited superparamagnetic properties, making them easy to separate. The MIP was fabricated by the self-polymerization of dopamine on the surface of amine-terminated Fe3O4@SiO2 (Fe3O4@SiO2-NH2) magnetic nanoparticles and doped with quantum dots (QDs) to form an ECL system. The ECL intensity decrease with the concentration of BPA increased, due to the BPA molecules occupied molecularly imprinted sites and blocked the strong ECL emission of QDs. The prepared ECL sensor performed satisfactorily in the detection of BPA, with a wide linear range from 10(- 4) to 10(- 9) mol L- 1 and a low detection limit of 3.4 x 10(- 10) mol L- 1 (S/N = 3). The recoveries of BPA achieved were in the range 96%-107% in the detection of actual water samples. The proposed ECL sensor displayed high sensitivity and stability, and may provide an approach for determining other important analytes.

Automated summary

This work developed a magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer-based quantum dots electrochemiluminescent probe for the ultrasensitive detection of bisphenol A. The sensor showed high sensitivity, a wide linear range, and a low detection limit, performing well in the detection of BPA in actual water samples with high recovery rates.