Immobilization of molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles in electrospun poly(vinyl alcohol) nanofibers

Nanofibrous Conductive Sensor for Limonene: One-Step Synthesis via Electrospinning and Molecular Imprinting

Detecting volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from different plant species and their organs can provide valuable information about plant health and environmental factors that affect them. For example, limonene emission can be a biomarker to monitor plant health and detect stress. Traditional methods for VOC detection encounter challenges, prompting the proposal of novel approaches. In this study, we proposed integrating electrospinning, molecular imprinting, and conductive nanofibers to fabricate limonene sensors. In detail, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and polyacrylic acid (PAA) served here as fiber and cavity formers, respectively, with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) enhancing conductivity. We developed one-step monolithic molecularly imprinted fibers, where S(-)-limonene was the target molecule, using an electrospinning technique. The functional cavities were fixed using the UV curing method, followed by a target molecule washing. This procedure enabled the creation of recognition sites for limonene within the nanofiber matrix, enhancing sensor performance and streamlining manufacturing. Humidity was crucial for sensor working, with optimal conditions at about 50% RH. The sensors rapidly responded to S(-)-limonene, reaching a plateau within 200 s. Enhancing fiber density improved sensor performance, resulting in a lower limit of detection (LOD) of 137 ppb. However, excessive fiber density decreased accessibility to active sites, thus reducing sensitivity. Remarkably, the thinnest mat on the fibrous sensors created provided the highest selectivity to limonene (Selectivity Index: 72%) compared with other VOCs, such as EtOH (used as a solvent in nanofiber development), aromatic compounds (toluene), and two other monoterpenes (α-pinene and linalool) with similar structures. These findings underscored the potential of the proposed integrated approach for selective VOC detection in applications such as precision agriculture and environmental monitoring.

Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 nanoparticles-decorated poly (vinyl alcohol) nanofiber as resonance light scattering probe for determination of sunitinib in serum samples

Nickel zinc ferrite (Ni_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄) nanoparticles decorated poly (vinyl alcohol) was constructed by the electrospinning method and used for determining the sunitinib amount in real sample. In this study, resonance light scattering (RLS) technique was used for studying the interaction of nanofibers with sunitinib. Similar Ni_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ nanoparticles-decorated nanofibers with average diameter of 200 nm and length up to several millimeters were prepared. The morphology and microstructure of the as prepared Ni _0.5Zn _0.5Fe₂O₄ nanoparticles-decorated nanofibers were studied in details. The nanofibers were characterized by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy techniques. The nanofibers are formed through assembling magnetic nanoparticles with poly (vinyl alcohol) as the structure-directing template. Under the optimal conditions, the linear dynamic range and RSD were 5.0 × 10^-3-10.0 mg L^-1 and 1.62% (n = 3), respectively. A limit of detection of 1.0 × 10^-3 mg L^-1 sunitinib was obtained from this method. The obtained results showed successful application of the method for the analysis of sunitinib in real samples.

Direct molecular imprinting technique to synthesize coated electrospun nanofibers for selective solid-phase microextraction of chlorpyrifos

Molecularly imprinted-electrospun nanofibers based on the use of poly(vinyl alcohol) were fabricated and used as a new sorbent for solid-phase microextraction of chlorpyrifos. The molecularly imprinted nanofibers were prepared by electrospinning and direct molecular imprinting of polymeric nanofibers. Poly(vinyl alcohol) was used as the functional and electrospun polymer. Chlorpyrifos was used as a template molecule, and glutaraldehyde as the cross-linker. Detection was performed by ion mobility spectrometry equipped with a secondary electrospray ionization source. The molecularly imprinted fiber has a selectivity and extraction efficiency better than the fiber fabricated using the conventional method of encapsulating MIP particles in electrospun nanofibers. Parameters affecting the extraction efficiency such as ionic strength, stirring rate, extraction time, and temperature were evaluated. The dynamic range of the method was in the range of 0.5-200 μg L^-1 with the limit of detection of 0.1 μg L^-1. The intra- and inter-day relative standard deviations of the method were 4 and 9%, respectively. The fiber-to-fiber reproducibility for three different fibers is 5%. The spiking recoveries from spiked apple, cucumber, and water samples were in the range of 82-112%. Graphical abstract Molecularly imprinted-electrospun nanofibers were fabricated based on the direct molecular imprinting technique and used as a new SPME fiber coating for selective extraction of chlorpyrifos from fruits and water samples prior its determination by secondary electrospray ionization-ion mobility spectrometry.

Molecularly Imprinted Membranes: Past, Present, and Future

More than 80 years ago, artificial materials with molecular recognition sites emerged. The application of molecular imprinting to membrane separation has been studied since 1962. Especially after 1990, such research has been intensively conducted by membranologists and molecular imprinters to understand the advantages of each technique with the aim of constructing an ideal membrane, which is still an active area of research. The present review aims to be a substantial, comprehensive, authoritative, critical, and general-interest review, placed at the cross section of two broad, interconnected, practical, and extremely dynamic fields, namely, the fields of membrane separation and molecularly imprinted polymers. This review describes the recent discoveries that appeared after repeated and fertile collisions between these two fields in the past three years, to which are added the worthy acknowledgments of pioneering discoveries and a look into the future of molecularly imprinted membranes. The review begins with a general introduction in membrane separation, followed by a short theoretical section regarding the basic principles of mass transport through a membrane. Following these general aspects on membrane separation, two principles of obtaining polymeric materials with molecular recognition properties are reviewed, namely, molecular imprinting and alternative molecular imprinting, followed the methods of obtaining and practical applications for the particular case of molecularly imprinted membranes. The review continues with insights into molecularly imprinted nanofiber membranes as a promising, highly optimized type of membrane that could provide a relatively high throughput without a simultaneous unwanted reduction in permselectivity. Finally, potential applications of molecularly imprinted membranes in a variety of fields are highlighted, and a look into the future of membrane separations is offered.

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.

Molecularly Imprinted Nanomaterials for Sensor Applications

Molecular imprinting is a well-established technology to mimic antibody-antigen interaction in a synthetic platform. Molecularly imprinted polymers and nanomaterials usually possess outstanding recognition capabilities. Imprinted nanostructured materials are characterized by their small sizes, large reactive surface area and, most importantly, with rapid and specific analysis of analytes due to the formation of template driven recognition cavities within the matrix. The excellent recognition and selectivity offered by this class of materials towards a target analyte have found applications in many areas, such as separation science, analysis of organic pollutants in water, environmental analysis of trace gases, chemical or biological sensors, biochemical assays, fabricating artificial receptors, nanotechnology, etc. We present here a concise overview and recent developments in nanostructured imprinted materials with respect to various sensor systems, e.g., electrochemical, optical and mass sensitive, etc. Finally, in light of recent studies, we conclude the article with future perspectives and foreseen applications of imprinted nanomaterials in chemical sensors.

Recent progress in the design of nanofiber-based biosensing devices

This review addresses recent progress made in the use of nanofibers for analyte detection and sample preparation within analytical devices. The unique characteristics of nanofibers make them ideal for incorporation within sensors designed to allow for sensitive detection of clinical, environmental, and food safety analytes. In particular, the extremely large surface area provided by nanofiber mats and arrays drastically increases the availability of immobilization sites within biosensors. Additionally, nanofibers can be made from a variety of biocompatible materials and can be functionalized through the incorporation of nanoscale materials within spinning dopes or polymerization solutions. Finally, methods of nanofiber formation are largely well understood, allowing for controlled synthesis of nanofiber mats with specific sizes, shapes, pore sizes, and tensile strengths. In this paper, we present a survey of the different materials that are currently being used to produce nanofibers for use within sensing devices. In addition, we compare the limits of detection and linear ranges of nanofiber-based sensors and conventional sensors to determine if detection is improved by the inclusion of nanoscale materials.