Synthesis of switchable intelligent molecularly imprinted polymers with selective adsorption of ethyl carbamate and their application in electrochemical sensor analysis

Assessing the greenification potential of cyclodextrin-based molecularly imprinted polymers for pesticides detection

Cyclodextrins, with their unparalleled attributes of eco-friendliness, natural abundance, versatile utility, and facile functionalization, make a paramount contribution to the field of molecular imprinting. Leveraging the unique properties of cyclodextrins in molecularly imprinted polymers synthesis has revolutionized the performance of molecularly imprinted polymers, resulting in enhanced adsorption selectivity, capacity, and rapid extraction of pesticides, while also circumventing conventional limitations. As the concern for food quality and safety continues to grow, the need for standard analytical methods to detect pesticides in food and environmental samples has become paramount. Cyclodextrins, being non-toxic and biodegradable, present an attractive option for greener reagents in imprinting polymers that can also ensure environmental safety post-application. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the significance of cyclodextrins in molecular imprinting for pesticide detection in food and environmental samples. The recent advancements in the synthesis and application of molecularly imprinted polymers using cyclodextrins have been critically analyzed. Furthermore, the current limitations have been meticulously examined, and potential opportunities for greenification with cyclodextrin applications in this field have been discussed. By harnessing the advantages of cyclodextrins in molecular imprinting, it is possible to develop highly selective and efficient methods for detecting pesticides in food and environmental samples while also addressing the challenges of sustainability and environmental impact.

Recent Advances of Molecularly Imprinted Polymers Based on Cyclodextrin

Molecular imprinting polymers (MIPs), generally considered as artificial mimics that are comparable to natural receptor, are polymers with tailor-made specific recognition sites complementary to the template molecules in shape and size. As a class of supramolecular compounds, cyclodextrins (CDs) are flourishing in the field of molecular imprinting with their unique structural properties. This review presents recent advances in application of MIPs based on CDs during the past five years. The discussion is grouped according to the different role of CDs in MIPs, that is, functional monomer, carrier modifier, etc. Main focus is the application of CD-based MIP on sample preparation, detection, and sensing. Additionally, drug delivery with CD-based MIP is also briefly discussed. Finally, challenges and future prospects of application of CDs in MIP are elaborated.

A facile synthesis of molecularly imprinted polymers and their properties as electrochemical sensors for ethyl carbamate analysis

New molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs), which exhibit specific recognition of ethyl carbamate (EC) have been synthesized and studied. In this process, EC was the template molecule and β-cyclodextrin derivatives were employed as functional monomers in the molecular imprinting technique (MIT). An EC molecularly imprinted sensor (EC-MIS) was prepared by using MIT surface modification. The EC-MIS was characterized by cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and differential pulse voltammetry. EC detection performance, binding parameters and dynamics mechanism were investigated. The result showed that the synthetic route designed was appropriate and that new MIP and EC-MIS were successfully prepared. The EC-MIS exhibited a good molecular recognition of EC. A linear relationship between current and EC concentration was observed using cyclic voltammetry and the detection limit was 5.86 μg L⁻¹. The binding constant (K = 4.75 × 10⁶ L mol⁻¹) between EC and the EC-MIS, as well as, the number of binding sites (n = 1.48) has been determined. The EC-MIS recognition mechanism for the EC is a two-step process. The sensor was applied for the determination of EC in Chinese yellow wines, and the results were in good agreement with the gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method.

An ethyl carbamate (EC) molecularly imprinted sensor (EC-MIS) has been prepared. The molecular recognition properties of EC were investigated, the binding parameters determined, and the dynamic mechanism of EC-MIS recognizing EC explored.