Development of a molecularly imprinted polymer-based electrochemical sensor for the selective detection of nerve agent VX metabolite ethyl methylphosphonic acid in human plasma and urine samples

Abstract

This study focuses on the detection of ethyl methyl phosphonic acid (EMPA), a metabolite of the banned organophosphorus nerve agent VX. We developed an electrochemical sensor utilizing the molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) based on 4-aminobenzoic acid (4-ABA) and tetraethyl orthosilicate for the selective detection of EMPA in human plasma and urine samples. The 4-ABA@EMPA/MIP/GCE sensor was constructed by a thermal polymerization process on a glassy carbon electrode and sensor characterization was performed by cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The 4-ABA@EMPA/MIP/GCE sensor demonstrated impressive linear ranges 1.0 × 10–10 M–2.5 × 10–9 M for the standard solution, 1.0 × 10–10 M–2.5 × 10–9 M for the urine sample, and 1.0 × 10–10 M–1 × 10–9 M of EMPA for the plasma sample with outstanding detection limits of 2.75 × 10−11 M (standard solution), 2.11 × 10−11 M (urine), and 2.36 × 10−11 M (plasma). The sensor exhibited excellent recovery percentages ranging from 99.86 to 101.30% in urine samples and 100.62 to 101.08% in plasma samples. These findings underscore the effectiveness of the 4-ABA@EMPA/MIP/GCE as a straightforward, highly sensitive, and selective interface capable of detecting the target analyte EMPA in human plasma and urine samples.

Selective Extraction and Quantification of Hemoglobin Based on a Novel Molecularly Imprinted Nanopolymeric Structure of Poly(acrylamide-vinyl imidazole)

“…Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) represent a well-established class of materials with a rich historical background and a diverse array of applications. , In the realm of chemical analysis, MIPs have the potential to substitute biogenic materials like antibodies, providing the necessary selectivity for analytical methods. − Beyond their various applications, the preparation of MIPs for analysis demands meticulous consideration of specific factors that play a critical role in influencing the overall efficiency of the imprinting process . MIPs exhibit distinctive selectivity for a predefined analyte or compounds sharing similar structures, featuring detection regions that prevent unintended binding. − Their versatility finds application across various domains, including industry, medicine, agriculture, and the environment . The attractiveness of MIPs lies in their cost-effectiveness, simplicity, ease of production, physical durability, stability, resistance to temperature and pressure, applicability to numerous target analytes, and high affinity for these targets .…”

“… 29 MIPs exhibit distinctive selectivity for a predefined analyte or compounds sharing similar structures, featuring detection regions that prevent unintended binding. 30 − 32 Their versatility finds application across various domains, including industry, medicine, agriculture, and the environment. 33 The attractiveness of MIPs lies in their cost-effectiveness, simplicity, ease of production, physical durability, stability, resistance to temperature and pressure, applicability to numerous target analytes, and high affinity for these targets.…”