Computational design and synthesis of a high selective molecularly imprinted polymer for voltammetric sensing of propazine in food samples

Using a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) as a recognition element, the design and construction of a high selective voltammetric sensor for propazine were introduced. A computational approach was developed to study the intermolecular interactions in the pre-polymerization mixture and to find a suitable functional monomer in MIP preparation. Having confirmed the results of computational method, three MIPs were synthesized with functional monomers methacrylic acid (MAA), acrylamide (AAM) and 4-vinylpyridine (4-VP). The results indicated that to prepare MIPs, acrylamide (AAM) is the best candidate. A propazine selective MIP and a nonimprinted polymer (NIP) were synthesized and then incorporated in the carbon paste electrodes (CPEs). The sensor was applied for propazine determination through the cathodic stripping voltammetric method. Two dynamic linear ranges of 0.01–1.0 μmol L−1 and 1.0–55.0 μmol L−1 were obtained. The detection limit of the sensor was calculated as 0.001 μmol L−1. This sensor was used successfully for propazine determination in food samples.