A novel high selective and sensitive metronidazole voltammetric sensor based on a molecularly imprinted polymer-carbon paste electrode

The design and construction of a highly selective voltammetric sensor for metronidazole by using a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) as recognition element were introduced. A metronidazole selective MIP and a nonimprinted polymer (NIP) were synthesized and then incorporated in the carbon paste electrodes (CPEs). The sensor was applied for metronidazole determination using cathodic stripping voltammetric method. The MIP-CP electrode showed very high recognition ability in comparison to NIP-CPE. Some parameters affecting the sensor response were optimized and then the calibration curve was plotted. Two dynamic linear ranges of 5.64 × 10⁻⁵ to 2.63 × 10⁻³ mg L⁻¹ and 2.63 × 10⁻³ to 7.69 × 10⁻² mg L⁻¹ were obtained. The detection limit of the sensor was calculated as 3.59 × 10⁻⁵ mg L⁻¹. This sensor was used successfully for metronidazole determination in biological fluids.