Verónica Poza-Nogueiras, Antón Puga, João G. Pacheco, Cristina Delerue-Matos
Hence, an easy-to-use MIP-based sensor was successfully developed with potential applications for on-site monitoring of CBZ in the environment. • First reported MIP-based sensor on SPCE for carbamazepine (CBZ) was developed. • The MIP film was obtained through electrochemical polymerization of EDOT. • High sensitivity and selectivity towards CBZ obtained after optimization. • It successfully detec
The presence of pharmaceuticals such as carbamazepine (CBZ) in water environments poses a threat, highlighting the importance of developing analytical tools for the detection and quantification of these compounds. In this work, for the first time a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) sensor was obtained on a screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) for the rapid detection of CBZ. This simple and portable voltammetric sensor was obtained by electropolymerization of 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) as the functional monomer in the presence of CBZ as the template molecule. Using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) as the detection method, the construction parameters were assessed and optimized. As a result, the optimal sensor was obtained performing the following steps: i) an activation with 50 mM of H 2 SO 4 , ii) an electropolymerization performing 20 cycles of cyclic voltammetry using 4.5 mM of EDOT and 1mM of CBZ, iii) an extraction with HCl 0.1 M during 30 min, and iv) an incubation in PBS pH 10 during 15 min. A linear analytical response was obtained in the range of 1-50 μM, with a LOD of 0.58 μM. The prepared sensor showed high selectivity towards CBZ over pharmaceuticals with similar chemical structures (CBZ 10,11-epoxide, diclofenac and diltiazem), with a response under 5% of that for CBZ. Additionally, its performance in real water samples was assessed, yielding good recoveries. Hence, an easy-to-use MIP-based sensor was successfully developed with potential applications for on-site monitoring of CBZ in the environment. • First reported MIP-based sensor on SPCE for carbamazepine (CBZ) was developed. • The MIP film was obtained through electrochemical polymerization of EDOT. • High sensitivity and selectivity towards CBZ obtained after optimization. • It successfully detected CBZ in tap, river and sea water samples. • The proposed MIP-sensor provides simple, low cost and rapid CBZ detection in water.