Electrochemical sensor based on imprinted sol-gel and nanomaterials for sensitive determination of bisphenol A

Bisphenol A (BPA) was reported to show potential detrimental effects on wildlife and humans through altering endocrine function. In this study, a novel electrochemical imprinted sensor for sensitive and convenient determination of BPA was developed. Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and gold nanoparticles (GNPs) were introduced for the enhancement of electronic transmission and sensitivity. Thin film of molecularly imprinted sol-gel polymers with specific binding sites for BPA was cast on gold electrode by electrochemical deposition. The resulting composites were characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and UV-visible spectra. Rebinding experiments were carried out to determine the specific binding capacity and selective recognition of the sensor. The linear range was from 1.13 × 10−7 to 8.21 × 10−3 mol L−1, with the limit of detection (LOD) of 3.6 × 10−9 mol L−1 (S/N = 3). The imprinted sensor was successfully tested to detect BPA in real samples.