Establishment of a Molecularly Imprinted Electrochemical Sensor NH2-MWCNTs@4-FPBA for the Detection of Epidermal Growth Factor in Dairy Products

Abstract:

[Objective]This study aims to develop a rapid and accurate method for detecting epidermal growth factor (EGF).[Method]4-Formylphenylboronic acid (4-FPBA) was covalently anchored to the surface of aminocarbon nanotubes (NH₂-MWCNTs) to synthesize nanocomposites (NH₂-MWCNTs@4-FPBA), and NH₂-MWCNTs@4-FPBA was modified on a glassy carbon electrode. When EGF was present, 4-FPBA captured the EGF template through benzaldehyde, and then the electrode was immersed in pyrrole solution to electropolymerize to form a pyrrole molecularly imprinted layer. Finally, after dissociation and removal of the EGF template in an acidic solution, a three-dimensional cavity complementary to the EGF template was formed.[Result]The sensor had a wide linear range of 0.45~500.00 pg/mL and a low detection limit of 0.45 pg/mL, with excellent selectivity, reproducibility, and stability.[Conclusion]The measurement using this molecularly imprinted electrochemical sensor showed that the mass concentration of EGF was 3.67 pg/mL in yoghurt and 29.03 pg/mL in ultra-high temperature transiently sterilized cow milk.