Core–shell nanocomposite of flower-like molybdenum disulfide nanospheres and molecularly imprinted polymers for electrochemical detection of anti COVID-19 drug favipiravir in biological samples

A novel electrochemical sensor is reported for the detection of the antiviral drug favipiravir based on the core–shell nanocomposite of flower-like molybdenum disulfide (MoS(2)) nanospheres and molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs). The MoS(2)@MIP core–shell nanocomposite was prepared via the electrodeposition of a MIP layer on the MoS(2) modified electrode, using o-phenylenediamine as the monomer and favipiravir as the template. The selective binding of target favipiravir at the MoS(2)@MIP core–shell nanocomposite produced a redox signal in a concentration dependent manner, which was used for the quantitative analysis. The preparation process of the MoS(2)@MIP core–shell nanocomposite was optimized. Under the optimal conditions, the sensor exhibited a wide linear response range of 0.01 ~ 100 nM (1.57*10(−6) ~ 1.57*10(−2) μg mL(−1)) and a low detection limit of 0.002 nM (3.14*10(−7) μg mL(−1)). Application of the sensor was demonstrated by detecting favipiravir in a minimum amount of 10 μL biological samples (urine and plasma). Satisfied results in the recovery tests indicated a high potential of favipiravir monitoring in infectious COVID-19 samples. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT: [Image: see text] SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00604-022-05213-9.