Fabrication of a highly selective and sensitive voltammetric ganciclovir sensor based on electropolymerized molecularly imprinted polymer and gold nanoparticles on multiwall carbon nanotubes/glassy carbon electrode

Abstract

For the first time, a new selective and sensitive voltammetric sensor for the determination of ganciclovir (GCV) based on electropolymerization of molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) onto multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)/glassy carbon electrode has been developed. AuNPs were introduced into the polymer composite for the development of electrical response by facilitating the charge transfer process. During the course of electropolymerization, a functional monomer of 2,2′-dithiodianiline was combined with AuNPs through Au–S bonds. Modifications were characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques. This sensor selectively detects ganciclovir even in the presence of high concentration of similar compounds. Under optimized conditions, the differential pulse voltammetric response was linearly related to ganciclovir concentrations between 0.05–50 and 50–500μM, with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.0015μM. Moreover, the designed sensor exhibited long-term stability, good repeatability, reproducibility and sensitivity toward ganciclovir determination in human serum samples.