Molecularly imprinted polymer/mesoporous carbon nanoparticles as electrode sensing material for selective detection of ofloxacin

Molecularly imprinted polymer/mesoporous carbon composite nanoparticles (MCNs@MIP) were prepared through covalent grafting of the polymer onto the surface of mesoporous carbon nanoparticles by precipitation polymerization using ofloxacin as a template. The MCNs@MIP were well monodisperse, with a diameter of ~220 nm. Using the MCNs@MIP as electrode sensing material, the electrode showed good electrochemical activity and selective response to ofloxacin in aqueous solutions. There was a linear relationship between the peak currents in cyclic voltammetry measurement and ofloxacin concentrations in the range of 0.5–100 μM, with a limit of detection (S/N=3) of 80 nM.