A Molecularly Imprinted Polymer (MIP)-based Biomimetic Potentiometric sensing device for the analysis of Clarithromycin

A molecular imprinted polymer (MIP)-based biomimetic sensing device was constructed for the analysis of clarithromycin (CM). The novel MIP was prepared using a methacrylic acid (MAA) (functional monomer) and Ethylene glycol dimethylacrylate (EGDMA) (cross-linker) and the target species (i.e.CM) as the template molecule. The resulting MIP had considerable adsorption capacity and excellent selectivity toward CM compound. After some experiments, optimum 1:6 mole ratio of template to MAA was selected for the synthesis of CM MIP. The non-covalent CM-MIP was used for the construction of a potentiometric sensor for CM. The proposed had selective and sensitive response to CM concentration in aqueous media. The electrode response had a Nernstian response of 50.8±1.0 mV decade−1from 1.0×10-6 to 5.0×10-3 M and had a detection limit as low as 8.0×10-7 M. The response time of the electrode was about 15 s, and it had a long-term stability of over 45 days. The sensor also proved applicable to the analysis of CM concentration in tablets with good sensitivity and accuracy.