Electrochemical sensor for sulfadimethoxine based on molecularly imprinted polypyrrole: Study of imprinting parameters

The present work describes the development of a simple and cost-effective electrochemical sensor for sulfadimethoxine (SDM) based on molecularly imprinted overoxidized polypyrrole (PPy). An all electrochemical approach is used for sensor fabrication and application consisting in molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) galvanostatic deposition on a gold electrode and its overoxidation under different experimental conditions and in SDM amperometric detection. Several parameters influencing the imprinting effect are critically discussed and evaluated. A key role of the electrolyte used in electropolymerization (tetrabuthylammonium perchlorate and lithium perchlorate) has emerged demonstrating its effect on sensing performances of imprinted PPy and, related to this, on its morphology, as highlighted by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The effect of different overoxidation conditions in removing template is evaluated by analyzing MIP films before and after the treatment by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) also evidencing the correlation between MIP chemical structure and its rebinding ability. MIP-template interaction is verified also by Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. Under the selected optimal conditions, MIP sensor shows a linear range from 0.15 to 3.7mM SDM, a limit of detection of 70μM, a highly reproducible response (RSD 4.2%) and a good selectivity in the presence of structurally related molecules. SDM was determined in milk samples spiked at two concentration levels: 0.2mM and 0.4mM obtaining a satisfactory recovery of (97±3)% and (96±8)%, respectively. •A molecularly imprinted polypyrrole for the antibiotic sulfadimethoxine is prepared by eletropolymerization.•The efficacy of overoxidation in template removal is evaluated by XPS analysis.•A key effect of the cation used in electropolymerization on MIP electrochemical behavior is demonstrated.•AFM analysis evidences the influence of cation used in electropolymerization on MIP morphology.•The developed sensor shows satisfactory performances in terms of sensitivity, reproducibility, LOD and selectivity.