Abstract: Background. Development of sensor systems based on synthetic mimics of biological molecules will provide new effective express-methods for detection of small organic molecules, including pharmaceuticals, for modern analytical biotechnology.
Objective. An analytical system for highly selective and sensitive detection of sulfamethoxazole based on molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) membranes is proposed, synthesized using the method of in situ polymerization in a combination with the method of computational modeling.
Methods. Sulfamethoxazole molecules, that were selectively adsorbed by the synthetic binding sites in MIP membranes structure, were visualized due to their ability to form brown-colored complexes after reaction with potassium ferricyanide and sodium nitroprusside in alkaline media.
Results. The limit for sulfamethoxazole detection comprised 2 mM, while the linear dynamic range - 2-15 mM, which allows one to detect sulfamethoxazole in pharmaceutical preparations. Stability of the developed MIP-based sensor systems was estimated as at least 6 months, which significantly increases stability of analogous devices based on natural receptors.
Conclusions. Applicability of the developed sensor systems for the analysis of sulfamethoxazole in both model solutions and real samples (commercial pharmaceutical preparations) was proven. The developed systems are characterized with high selectivity, sensitivity, small size and low cost.
Template and target information: sulfamethoxazole
Author keywords: sensors, Sensor systems, Molecularly imprinted polymers, membranes, pharmaceuticals, Sulfanilamides