Molecularly Imprinted Polymers (MIPs) are synthesized for the neurotransmitter noradrenaline with the optimal composition and binding conditions being determined via optical batch rebinding experiments. Next, the obtained MIP polymer particles are mixed within screen-printed inks to produce mass-producible bulk modified MIPs screen-printed electrodes (MIP-SPEs). In this contribution, the supporting surface which the MIP-SPEs are screen-printed upon are explored to deviate from conventional polyester, to polyvinylchloride, tracing paper and household-printing paper. The performance of the MIP-SPEs are measured using the Heat-Transfer Method (HTM), a straightforward and low-cost detection technique based on thermal resistance. At first, the noise on the signal is minimized by adjusting the settings of the temperature feedback loop. Second, the response of the MIP-SPEs to noradrenaline is measured and compared for the different substrate materials. Sensors printed onto paper are considered in further experiments as their response to noradrenaline is the highest and advantageous material properties, including sustainability and flexibility of the material. Subsequently, dose-response curves are determined by simultaneously measuring HTM and Thermal Wave Transport Analysis (TWTA). The latter is a new thermal detection method that relies on the use of thermal waves and has the advantage of a short measurement time (2 min). With these thermal methods, it is possible to specifically detect noradrenaline in aqueous solutions and quantify it at relevant concentrations. In summary, by combining synthetic receptors with thermal measurement techniques it is possible to develop a portable sensor platform that is capable of low-cost and straightforward detection of biomolecules. Through exploring novel SPE substrates, a system is designed that is flexible and holds potential for the use in commercial biomedical devices and complex sensor architectures.

Antidepressants such as amitryptiline and fluoxetine are on the list of modern essential medicines of the World Health Organization. However, there are growing concerns regarding the ecological impact of these pharmaceuticals, leading to a great need to improve current wastewater treatment procedures. In this contribution, we will report on the use of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) for the extraction of antidepressants in water samples. MIPs were developed for fluoxetine and duloxetine, antidepressants belonging to the class of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). The binding capacity of these microparticles was evaluated using ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy. A new high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) procedure coupled to UV detection was developed, which enabled the study of mixtures of fluoxetine and duloxetine with other nitrogen-containing compounds. These results indicate that it is possible to selectively extract SSRIs from complex samples. Therefore, these versatile polymers are a promising analytical tool for the clean-up of water samples, which will benefit aquatic life and reduce the ecological impact of pharmaceuticals.