Molecularly imprinted electrochemical sensor based on Au nanoparticles in carboxylated multi-walled carbon nanotubes for sensitive determination of olaquindox in food and feedstuffs

A novel molecularly imprinted electrochemical sensor (MIECS) was proposed to determine olaquindox (OLA) using gold nanoparticles in molecularly imprinted polymer (AuNPs@MIP) and carboxylated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (cMWCNTs). Glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was modified with cMWCNTs (cMWCNTs/GCE), and AuNPs/cMWCNT/GCE was obtained by electrodeposition on cMWCNTs/GCE using chronoamperometry in HAuCl4. Then, the obtained MIP/AuNPs/cMWCNTs/GCE was electropolymerized using OLA as template and o-PD as monomer to determine OLA. Important experimental parameters, namely, scan cycles, mole ratio of template molecules to functional monomers, pH value, and incubation time were optimized. The novel MIP sensor can offer a 2.7nM of detection limit for OLA. In addition, a series of food and feedstuffs were analyzed to demonstrate the feasibility of MIECS. •A novel MIECS was proposed to determine olaquindox using MIP/AuNPs/cMWCNTs/GCE.•GCE was modified with cMWCNTs and AuNPs.•The MIECS was electropolymerized using OLA as template and o-PD as monomer to determine OLA.•The linear range for MIECS was 10.0–200nM, and the detection limit was 2.7nM.