Development of a Molecularly Imprinted Biomimetic Electrode

The technique of molecular imprinting produces artificial receptor sites in a polymer that can be used in a biomimetic sensor. This research extends previous studies of a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) biomimetic sensor for the small drug theophylline. The presence of theophylline in the biomimetic sensor was monitored by analyzing the peak currents from cyclic voltammetry experiments. The functional working range of the MIP modified electrode was 2 - 4 mM theophylline. The concentration of theophylline that resulted in the best signal was 3 mM. The MIP sensor showed no response to the structurally related molecule caffeine, and therefore was selective to the target analyte theophylline. This research will provide the foundation for future studies that will result in durable biomimetic sensors that can offer a viable alternative to current sensors.