Fabrication of a highly sensitive electrochemical sensor based on electropolymerized molecularly imprinted polymer hybrid nanocomposites for the determination of 4-nonylphenol in packaged milk samples

Herein, an imprinted electrochemical sensor based on graphene-Au nanoparticles incorporated with molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) was fabricated for determination of 4-nonylphenol (4-NP). Grafted MIP electropolymerized on nanoscale multilayer films electrode was achieved using 4-NP as a template and P-aminothiophenol as a functional monomer. The electrochemical properties of the MIP nanoscale multilayer membrances were characterized and measured by cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry techniques; using ferrocyanide/ferricyanide-redox marker. Several important parameters were optimized and investigated to improve the performance of the sensor. Under the optimized conditions, the developed sensor showed an excellent linear response over the concentration ranges of 50–500 ng mL−1 (4-NP) with a detection limit of 0.01 ng mL−1(S/N = 3). The developed sensor showed a good selective recognition of 4-NP compared with structural analogue, exhibited a good reproducibility and accuracy with long-term stability. At last, the feasibility of the proposed methodology was successfully applied fordetection of 4-NP in milk and its packaging materials. •An imprinted electrochemical sensor for 4-NP detection was fabricated based on GN/Au nanoparticles combining with MIP.•The developed sensor showed a good selective recognition of 4-NP and also exhibited good reproducibility with long-term stability and accuracy.•The developed method was successfully applied to the detection of 4-NP in packaged milk samples.