Molecularly Imprinted Chemiresistive Sensor for Specific Recognition of Furaneol as a Biomarker of Strawberry Flavor Conditions

Abstract

This work introduces the concept of a molecularly imprinted gas sensor to monitor the condition of naturally ripened strawberries. Furaneol, 2,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxy-3(2H)-furanone, is considered as an important biomarker related to the strawberry flavor. Identification of furaneol concentration is still a challenge because of its weak adsorption, nonpolar, and unreactive properties. Therefore, no study has been reported yet to measure furaneol gases via a simple chemiresistive mechanism. Herein, we demonstrate the sensor based on molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP)-based polyaniline (PANI). The sensitive and selective detection of furaneol gas with a MIP-PANI gas sensor was observed at room temperature and under different humidity conditions. The comparison between MIP and the nonimprinted (NIP)-based PANI shows a strong interaction between furaneol and the molecularly imprinted polymer. The furaneol gas sensing mechanism is explained based on the interaction between the gas molecules and the charge carriers of MIP-PANI, which results in the functional group change in the carboxylic group. Furthermore, the developed MIP-chemiresistive sensor for real strawberries was compared with a commercial e-nose system. The results show the potential to offer a rapid and cost-effective platform for specific recognition of furaneol.

Development of Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Electrochemical Sensors for Strawberry Sweetness Biomarker Detection

“…Additionally, the utilization of a PANI-based electrochemical sensor with cyclic voltammetry (CV) enables an analysis of the reaction between the sensors and furaneol, providing insights into the exact sensing mechanism. This provides insights into the exact sensing mechanism that was previously unobservable in the gas-phase furaneol reaction from the earlier work . Upon construction of the furaneol template, the MIP sensor exhibited a strong affinity for furaneol molecules, resulting in a significantly enhanced sensing response and demonstrating selective furaneol detection among various VOCs in fruit components.…”

“…Komarova et al used a field-effect transistor with a single-stranded DNA aptamer, while Douaki et al introduced a carbon nanotube (CNT)-modified electrochemical aptasensor . In addition, Ghatak et al developed a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) sensor based on MIPs for the furaneol detection, and Kim et al utilized a chemiresistive gas sensor for strawberry furaneol detection . Sensors employing biorecognition elements exhibited superior capabilities with lower LoD.…”

“…MIPs, or plastic antibodies, exhibit affinity similar to that of biological antibodies, facilitating selective and enhanced detection of the target molecules. Owing to their high specificity and stability, MIPs have been extensively utilized in various sensor platforms, such as surface plasmon resonance for real-time monitoring, chemiresistive gas sensors for detecting VOCs, and electrochemical biosensors for sensitive and selective analyte detection . In addition to their high specificity and stability, MIPs offer several advantages including ease of synthesis, low cost, and reusability.…”

Ultra-Sensitive Portable Visual Paper-Based Viral Molecularly Imprinted Sensor without Autofluorescence Interference

“…Molecular imprinting is an important biomimetic recognition technology that is used to simulate the specific recognition of antibodies and enzymes. Because this strategy is predictable, identifiable, and practical, it is widely used in chromatographic separation, solid-phase extraction, bionic sensing, simulated enzyme catalysis, clinical drug analysis, and other fields. − Preparation of molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) sensors mainly involves three steps: (a) polymerization of template molecules and functional monomers on substrate materials and (b) elution of the template molecules to obtain MIPs with specific imprinted cavities. (c) The MIPs are specifically bound to the target molecule, the signal changes before and after binding to the target are recorded, and the quantitative equation is established.…”