Piezoelectric sensors using molecularly imprinted nanospheres for the detection of antibiotics

• The conditions of synthesizing NMIPs via the precipitation method were studied.
• The possibilities of NMIPs' application in piezoelectric sensors were shown.
• The sensors were tested at the analysis of foodstuffs for the penicillins' detection.

The application of nanoparticulate molecularly imprinted polymers (NMIPs) as molecular recognition element in piezoelectric chemical sensors for the detection of penicillins is reported. Using NMIPs obtained via precipitation polymerization, a synthetic receptor layer was formed at the surface of a piezoelectric sensor in direct format and nanoparticles were used also as synthetic antibodies in a competitive pseudoimmunoanalysis format. Thus obtained calibration functions provide a linear range at a concentration of 0.1–0.5 μg mL−1 for penicillin G, and 0.1–1.0 μg mL−1 for ampicillin with limits of detection at 0.04 and 0.09 μg mL−1, respectively. These analytical figures of merit are below the mandated maximum residue limits (MRL) for such antibiotics in meat, therefore rendering the developed device suitable for applications in food industries. The sensors were tested at the analysis of real objects.

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