Development and application of new nanoestructurated chemical sensors based on biomimetic polymers

Abstract

This research project aims to develop new nanostructured chemical sensors based on polymers with molecular imprinting (MIP, molecularly imprinted polymers) using alternative systems transducers unexplored and scarce in the literature. For this, biomimetic polymers (MIP) will be immobilized on the surface of glass optical fibers or magnetic nanoparticles, to obtain the corresponding sensing phases, which will be properly optimized, as well also optimized the conditions of sensors analysis for detecting sensitive and selectively the pesticides, ametryne and metribuzin (classic pollutants) and sulfamide antibiotic and the dyes, acid violet 19 and basic green 1, considered as emerging pollutants. Subsequently it could be applied in biological, environmental and food samples according to the case. The choice of analytes was based on its environmental importance and their relevant use which is exist in the literature in relation to its monitoring through chemical sensors based on MIP and the main possibility of monitoring them through of systems different to the electrochemical, taking a step forward in the development of sensors not only in Brazil, but also for the world. In the case of dyes and antibiotic will be used the optical transduction, since the concentration of these analytes to the sensor surface may be monitored by the change in absorbance or reflectance due to the color generated in the sensing phase coming from these analytes. Pesticides will be monitored using the new sensing platforms based on the magnetic-MIP, mainly because it has been shown in the literature and in our research group, than the magnetic nanoparticles modified by MIP exhibit high affinity for its analyte which will enable the extraction and previous pre-concentration of the pesticides, which commonly found in complex matrices and at low concentrations and could be taken by a magnetic-electrode to perform the measurements in a cleaner solution. So this project aims to show the real potential of these highly selective nanoporous polymers (biomimetic polymers) as new and alternatives sensing platforms to existing ones, which are coupled to the appropriate transduction systems having the additional advantage of being more durable and stable than the conventional biosensors and opening the possibility of direct analysis in the different biological matrices such as industrial waste water, river water or non-aqueous medium, extending the application of biosensors (highly selective, but unstable under adverse and extreme conditions) for the use of MIP as biomimetic recognizers. (AU)