Paracetamol voltammetric microsensors based on electrocopolymerized–molecularly imprinted film modified carbon fiber microelectrodes

Abstract

A molecularly imprinted polymer is presented as a carbon fiber microelectrode coating for determining the presence of paracetamol. The polymeric film was obtained by electrocopolymerization of o-phenylenediamine and aniline in the presence of the template molecule, through the use of cyclic voltammetry. After removing the template, the signals of the microsensor were converted into physical ones by a voltammetric transductor using square wave voltammetry. Various parameters influencing the electropolymerization and voltammetric determination processes were examined and optimized. The response of the imprinted microsensor to paracetamol was linearly proportional to its concentration over the range 6.5 × 10⁻⁶ to 2.0 × 10⁻³ mol l⁻¹, with good stability and reproducibility (RSD < 5.6%). The detection limit was 1.5 µM. Under the experimental conditions used the voltammetric microsensor was able to differentiate between paracetamol and other closely structurally-related compounds present in biological fluids, such as certain catecholamines.