Conductive molecularly imprinted polymer based on poly(1,8-diaminonaphthalene) decorated on gold nanoparticles for controlled antibiotic release

The combination of conducting polymer and nanogold represents a cutting-edge approach in the development of efficient drug release control systems, particularly leveraging molecular imprinting technology. In this work, a conductive molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) was electro-synthesized from 1,8-diaminonaphthalene monomers in the presence of amoxicillin as target molecule on gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). AuNPs play a crucial role in supporting the polymerization process and facilitating the characterization of material properties through various analytical techniques. Furthermore, the conductive MIP facilitates fabrication control through electrochemical parameters, enabling the specific and reversible capture and release of amoxicillin. A comprehensive drug release kinetic study was conducted, revealing a significant departure from the conventional release profile of commercial amoxicillin capsules. While typical capsules release the drug over 1 h, our conductive MIP material demonstrated a substantially prolonged release time, extending up to approximately 8 h. This prolonged-release duration holds promising implications for drug delivery applications, potentially offering improved therapeutic outcomes and patient adherence. Graphic Abstract