A novel electrochemical sensor for paracetamol based on molecularly imprinted polymeric micelles

A novel molecular imprinted polymeric (MIP) micelle was prepared via macromolecule self-assembly of an amphiphilic photo-crosslinkable copolymer in combination with a molecular imprinting technique using paracetamol as the template molecule, and applied as a molecular recognition element to construct paracetamol (PCM) electrochemical sensor. The template molecules (PCM) were imbedded in the copolymer micelle during the self-assembly micellization of amphiphilic copolymers through the interactions between PCM and copolymer chain. A robust MIP film was formed in situ on the electrode surface by electrodeposition of the MIP micelles and subsequent photo-crosslinking, leading to successful construction of a MIP sensor. Using differential pulse stripping voltammetry (DPSV), selective detection of PCM in a linear concentration range of 1 μM–4 mM was obtained, revealing wider linear response and higher upper detection limit of detection compared to previously reported PCM electrochemical sensors, which was attributed to numerous effective recognition sites among the polymer matrix due to the large specific surface area of MIP micelles. In addition, this MIP sensor showed excellent selectivity to PCM, and the interferences from structurely similar analogs were effectively avoided. Excellent stability and repeatability has also been exhibited. Finally, it was successfully applied to detect PCM in real samples with good recoveries. Together, these results indicate that our MIP sensor is a promising platform for accurate and reproducible detection of PCM.