Development of novel molecularly imprinted magnetic solid-phase extraction materials based on magnetic carbon nanotubes and their application for the determination of gatifloxacin in serum samples coupled with high performance liquid chromatography

A novel composite imprinted material, on the basis of magnetic carbon nanotubes (MCNTs)-incorporated layer using gatifloxacin as a template, methacrylic acid as a functional monomer, and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as a cross-linker, was successfully synthesized by a surface imprinting technique. Adsorption dynamics and a Scatchard adsorption model were employed to evaluate the adsorption process. The results showed that magnetic carbon nanotubes molecularly imprinted polymers (MCNTs@MIP) displayed a rapid dynamic adsorption and a high adsorption capacity of 192.7 μg/mg toward GTFX. Applied MCNTs@MIP as a sorbent, a magnetic solid phase extraction method coupled with high performance liquid chromatography (MSPE-HPLC) was developed for the determination of GTFX in serum samples. The recoveries from 79.1 ± 4.8% to 85.3 ± 4.2% were obtained. MCNTs@MIP can not only be collected and separated fast by external magnetic field but also have high surface-to-volume ratio, outstanding mechanical properties and specific recognition toward template molecule. In addition, the MCNTs@MIP could be regenerated, which could be used for five cycles with lost of less than 7.8% of its recovery on average. These analytical results of serum samples display that the proposed method based on MCNTs@MIP is applicable for fast and selective extraction of therapeutic agents from biological fluids.

► A novel method for the highly selective recognition of GTFX was developed.
► Attaching Fe3O4 nanoparticles to carbon nanotubes by a simple solvothermal process.
► Synthesizing MIP on the surface of magnetic carbon nanotubes.
► The composites combined the advantages of Fe3O4 nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes.
► The method is applicable for extraction of therapeutic agents from biological fluids.