Trimethoprim-selective electrodes with molecularly imprinted polymers acting as ionophores and potentiometric transduction on graphite solid-contact

Molecular imprinted polymer-based potentiometric approach for the assay of the co-formulated tetracycline HCl, metronidazole and bismuth subcitrate in capsules and spiked human plasma

BACKGROUND

An anti-H-pylori co-formulated mixture of tetracycline HCl (TET), metronidazole (MET), and bismuth subcitrate (BSC) is recently available. Only two chromatographic and spectrophotometric methods are reported for determining those drugs simultaneously where the effect of impurities that could be present as well as the biological fluids matrix influence do not be taken into consideration. There is a need to develop an easy-to-use potentiometric technique for analysis of TET, MET, and BSC in their co-formulated capsules, in presence of some official impurities and in spiked human plasma.

RESULTS

Three carbon paste electrodes (CPEs) were fabricated for this purpose. Being a solid contact ion-selective electrode, CPE suffers from the creation of a water layer affecting its stability and reproducibility. Besides, it has a common problem in differentiation between two drugs carrying the same charge (positively charged TET and MET). Water layer formation was prevented through inserting polyaniline nanoparticles (≈10.0 nm diameter) between solid contact and ion-sensing membrane in the three proposed sensors. TET and MET interference was overcome by synthesizing a corresponding molecular imprinted polymer (MIP) for each drug. The synthesized MIPs were inserted in equivalent sensing membranes and characterized using several techniques. The suggested MIPs have a noticeable enhanced sensitivity in potentiometric determination. The obtained LODs were 5.88 × 10-8, 5.19 × 10-7, and 1.73 × 10-6 M for TET, MET and BSC proposed CPEs, respectively, with corresponding slopes of 57.37, 56.20, and -57.40 mV decade-1.

SIGNIFICANCE

The proposed potentiometric method makes the detection of the three cited drugs simple, fast, and feasible. This approach is the first for determining three drugs potentiometrically in one combined formulation. The obtained results were compared favorably with previously reported potentiometric methods.

Carbon Fiber Paper Sensor for Determination of Trimethoprim Antibiotic in Fish Samples

The increase in anthropogenic pollution raises serious concerns regarding contamination of water bodies and aquatic species with potential implications on human health. Pharmaceutical compounds are a type of contaminants of emerging concern that are increasingly consumed and, thus, being frequently found in the aquatic environment. In this sense, an electrochemical sensor based on an unmodified and untreated carbon fiber paper (CPS-carbon paper sensor) was simply employed for the analysis of trimethoprim antibiotic in fish samples. First, the analytical conditions were thoroughly optimized in order for the CPS to achieve maximum performance in trimethoprim determination. Therefore, an electrolyte (0.1 M Britton-Robinson buffer) pH of 7 was selected and for square wave voltammetry parameters, optimum values of amplitude, frequency and step potential corresponded to 0.02 V, 50 Hz, and 0.015 V, respectively, whereas the deposition of analyte occurred at +0.7 V for 60 s. In these optimum conditions, the obtained liner range (0.05 to 2 µM), sensitivity (48.8 µA µM^-1 cm^-2), and LOD (0.065 µM) competes favorably with the commonly used GCE-based sensors or BDD electrodes that employ nanostructuration or are more expensive. The CPS was then applied for trimethoprim determination in fish samples after employing a solid phase extraction procedure based on QuEChERS salts, resulting in recoveries of 105.9 ± 1.8% by the standard addition method.

Multisensory Systems Based on Perfluorosulfonic Acid Membranes Modified with Functionalized CNTs for Determination of Sulfamethoxazole and Trimethoprim in Pharmaceuticals

Sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim are synthetic bacteriostatic drugs. A potentiometric multisensory system for the analysis of sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim combination drugs was developed. Perfluorosulfonic acid membranes containing functionalized CNTs were used as the sensor materials. The CNTs' surface was modified by carboxyl, sulfonic acid, or (3-aminopropyl)trimethoxysilanol groups. The influence of the CNT concentration and the properties of their surface, as well as preliminary ultrasonic treatment of the polymer and CNT solution before the casting of hybrid membranes, on their ion-exchange capacity, water uptake, and transport properties was revealed. Cross-sensitivity of the sensors to the analytes was achieved due to ion exchange and hydrophobic interactions with hybrid membranes. An array of cross-sensitive sensors based on the membranes containing 1.0 wt% of CNTs with sulfonic acid or (3-aminopropyl)trimethoxysilanol groups enabled us to provide the simultaneous determination of sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim in aqueous solutions with a concentration ranging from 1.0 × 10^-5 to 1.0 × 10^-3 M (pH 4.53-8.31). The detection limits of sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim were 3.5 × 10^-7 and 1.3 × 10^-7 М. The relative errors of sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim determination in the combination drug as compared with the content declared by the manufacturer were 4% (at 6% RSD) and 5% (at 7% RSD).

Glucose Incorporated Graphite Matrix for Electroanalysis of Trimethoprim

The antibiotic drug trimethoprim (TMP) is used to treat bacterial infections in humans and animals, and frequently TMP is used along with sulfonamides. However, a large portion of TMP is excreted in its active state, which poses a severe problem to humans and the environment. A sensitive, rapid, cost-effective analytical tool is required to monitor the TMP concentration in biological and environmental samples. Hence, this study proposed an analytical methodology to analyze TMP in clinical, biological and environmental samples. The investigations were carried out using a glucose-modified carbon paste electrode (G-CPE) employing voltammetric techniques. Electrochemical behavior was examined with 0.5 mM TMP solution at optimum pH 3.4 (Phosphate Buffer Solution, I = 0.2 M). The influence of scan rate on the electro-oxidation of TMP was studied within the range of 0.05 to 0.55 V/s. The effect of pH and scan rate variations revealed proton transfer during oxidation. Moreover, diffusion phenomena governed the irreversibility of the electrode reaction. A probable and suitable electrode interaction and reaction mechanism was proposed for the electrochemical oxidation of TMP. Further, the TMP was quantitatively estimated with the differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) technique in the concentration range from 9.0 × 10^-7 to 1.0 × 10^-4 M. The tablet, spiked water and urine analysis demonstrated that the selected method and developed electrode were rapid, simple, sensitive, and cost-effective.

Nanostructured ZnO-Based Electrochemical Sensor with Anionic Surfactant for the Electroanalysis of Trimethoprim

In this research, detection of trimethoprim (TMP) was carried out using a nanostructured zinc oxide nanoparticle-modified carbon paste electrode (ZnO/CPE) with an anionic surfactant and sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) with the help of voltametric techniques. The electrochemical nature of TMP was studied in 0.2 M pH 3.0 phosphate-buffer solution (PBS). The developed electrode displayed the highest peak current compared to nascent CPE. Effects of variation in different parameters, such as pH, immersion time, scan rate, and concentration, were investigated. The electrode process of TMP was irreversible and diffusion controlled with two electrons transferred. The effective concentration range (8.0 × 10^-7 M-1.0 × 10^-5 M) of TMP was obtained by varying the concentration with a lower limit of detection obtained to be 2.58 × 10^-8 M. In addition, this approach was effectively employed in the detection of TMP in pharmaceutical dosages and samples of urine with the excellent recovery data, suggesting the potency of the developed electrode in clinical and pharmaceutical sample analysis.

Modern and Dedicated Methods for Producing Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Layers in Sensing Applications

Molecular imprinting (MI) is the most available and known method to produce artificial recognition sites, similar to antibodies, inside or at the surface of a polymeric material. For this reason, scholars all over the world have found MI appealing, thus developing, in this past period, various types of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) that can be applied to a wide range of applications, including catalysis, separation sciences and monitoring/diagnostic devices for chemicals, biochemicals and pharmaceuticals. For instance, the advantages brought by the use of MIPs in the sensing and analytics field refer to higher selectivity, sensitivity and low detection limits, but also to higher chemical and thermal stability as well as reusability. In light of recent literature findings, this review presents both modern and dedicated methods applied to produce MIP layers that can be integrated with existent detection systems. In this respect, the following MI methods to produce sensing layers are presented and discussed: surface polymerization, electropolymerization, sol–gel derived techniques, phase inversionand deposition of electroactive pastes/inks that include MIP particles.

Molecular imprinting science and technology: a survey of the literature for the years 2004-2011

Herein, we present a survey of the literature covering the development of molecular imprinting science and technology over the years 2004-2011. In total, 3779 references to the original papers, reviews, edited volumes and monographs from this period are included, along with recently identified uncited materials from prior to 2004, which were omitted in the first instalment of this series covering the years 1930-2003. In the presentation of the assembled references, a section presenting reviews and monographs covering the area is followed by sections describing fundamental aspects of molecular imprinting including the development of novel polymer formats. Thereafter, literature describing efforts to apply these polymeric materials to a range of application areas is presented. Current trends and areas of rapid development are discussed.

Bio-mimetic sensors based on molecularly imprinted membranes

An important challenge for scientific research is the production of artificial systems able to mimic the recognition mechanisms occurring at the molecular level in living systems. A valid contribution in this direction resulted from the development of molecular imprinting. By means of this technology, selective molecular recognition sites are introduced in a polymer, thus conferring it bio-mimetic properties. The potential applications of these systems include affinity separations, medical diagnostics, drug delivery, catalysis, etc. Recently, bio-sensing systems using molecularly imprinted membranes, a special form of imprinted polymers, have received the attention of scientists in various fields. In these systems imprinted membranes are used as bio-mimetic recognition elements which are integrated with a transducer component. The direct and rapid determination of an interaction between the recognition element and the target analyte (template) was an encouraging factor for the development of such systems as alternatives to traditional bio-assay methods. Due to their high stability, sensitivity and specificity, bio-mimetic sensors-based membranes are used for environmental, food, and clinical uses. This review deals with the development of molecularly imprinted polymers and their different preparation methods. Referring to the last decades, the application of these membranes as bio-mimetic sensor devices will be also reported.

Molecularly imprinted membranes

Although the roots of molecularly imprinted polymers lie in the beginning of 1930s in the past century, they have had an exponential growth only 40-50 years later by the works of Wulff and especially by Mosbach. More recently, it was also proved that molecular imprinted membranes (i.e., polymer thin films) that show recognition properties at molecular level of the template molecule are used in their formation. Different procedures and potential application in separation processes and catalysis are reported. The influences of different parameters on the discrimination abilities are also discussed.

Novel LTCC-potentiometric microfluidic device for biparametric analysis of organic compounds carrying plastic antibodies as ionophores: application to sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim

Monitoring organic environmental contaminants is of crucial importance to ensure public health. This requires simple, portable and robust devices to carry out on-site analysis. For this purpose, a low-temperature co-fired ceramics (LTCC) microfluidic potentiometric device (LTCC/μPOT) was developed for the first time for an organic compound: sulfamethoxazole (SMX). Sensory materials relied on newly designed plastic antibodies. Sol-gel, self-assembling monolayer and molecular-imprinting techniques were merged for this purpose. Silica beads were amine-modified and linked to SMX via glutaraldehyde modification. Condensation polymerization was conducted around SMX to fill the vacant spaces. SMX was removed after, leaving behind imprinted sites of complementary shape. The obtained particles were used as ionophores in plasticized PVC membranes. The most suitable membrane composition was selected in steady-state assays. Its suitability to flow analysis was verified in flow-injection studies with regular tubular electrodes. The LTCC/μPOT device integrated a bidimensional mixer, an embedded reference electrode based on Ag/AgCl and an Ag-based contact screen-printed under a micromachined cavity of 600 μm depth. The sensing membranes were deposited over this contact and acted as indicating electrodes. Under optimum conditions, the SMX sensor displayed slopes of about -58.7 mV/decade in a range from 12.7 to 250 μg/mL, providing a detection limit of 3.85 μg/mL and a sampling throughput of 36 samples/h with a reagent consumption of 3.3 mL per sample. The system was adjusted later to multiple analyte detection by including a second potentiometric cell on the LTCC/μPOT device. No additional reference electrode was required. This concept was applied to Trimethoprim (TMP), always administered concomitantly with sulphonamide drugs, and tested in fish-farming waters. The biparametric microanalyzer displayed Nernstian behaviour, with average slopes -54.7 (SMX) and +57.8 (TMP) mV/decade. To demonstrate the microanalyzer capabilities for real applications, it was successfully applied to single and simultaneous determination of SMX and TMP in aquaculture waters.