Molecularly imprinted polymers based biomimetic sensors for mosapride citrate detection in biological fluids

•MIP modified PVC electrodes were prepared for mosapride (Mc).•Computational studies of pre-polymerization complexes were performed.•Votammetric measurements were optimized.•Sensors were applied for pure solutions, Mosapride® and biological fluids.

Computational modeling was applied to study the intermolecular interactions in the pre-polymerization mixture and find a suitable functional monomer to use in the design of a new molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) for mosapride citrate which is considerably a large molecule (as the citrate ion is also included in calculations as it has centers that can take part in interaction with monomer via hydrogen bonding). Based on these calculations, methacyrlic acid (MAA) was selected as a suitable functional monomer. Mosapride citrate selective MIP and a non-imprinted polymer (NIP) were synthesized and characterized using FTIR, TGA and SEM and then incorporated in carbon paste electrodes (CPEs). The designed modified sensor revealed linear responses in the ranges of 1 × 10− 4-8 × 10− 7 and 8 × 10− 7-8 × 10− 8 mol L− 1 with a limit of detection (LOD) of 2.6 × 10− 8 mol L− 1. The results of the sensor exhibited high selectivity over interfering species and could be applied for the determination of mosapride citrate in pure solutions, pharmaceutical preparations, urine and human serum samples.

Graphical abstractDownload high-res image (121KB)Download full-size image