Sol–gel derived multiwalled carbon nanotubes ceramic electrode modified with molecularly imprinted polymer for ultra trace sensing of dopamine in real samples

A new class of composite electrodes made of sol–gel derived ceramic-multiwalled carbon nanotubes is used for the growth of a nanometer thin film adopting “surface grafting-from approach”. For this the multiwalled carbon nanotubes-ceramic electrode surface is first modified with an iniferter (benzyl N,N-diethyldithiocarbamate) and then dopamine imprinted polymer, under UV irradiation, for differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetric sensing of dopamine in aqueous, blood serum, cerebrospinal fluid, and pharmaceutical samples (detection limit 0.143–0.154 ng mL−1, 3σ), without any cross reactivity, interferences and false-positive contributions. Such composite electrodes offer higher stability, electron kinetics, and renewable porous surface of larger electroactive area (with insignificant capacitance) than carbon ceramic electrodes. Additional cyclic voltammetry (stripping mode) and chronocoulometry experiments were performed to explore electrodics and kinetics of electro-oxidation of dopamine.

► MWCNTs-CE was prepared by silane acrylate which provides a nanometer thin MIP film.
► The sensor was modified by iniferter and MIP using “surface grafting-from approach”.
► A comparative study was performed between differentially designed ceramic electrodes.
► The sensor can detect dopamine in real samples with LODs (0.143–0.154 ng mL−1).