A molecularly imprinted electrochemical aptasensor based on zinc oxide and co-deposited gold nanoparticles/reduced graphene oxide composite for detection of amoxicillin

The molecularly imprinted electrochemical aptasensor was constructed based on co-deposition of zinc oxide and gold nanoparticles/reduced graphene oxide composite. Aptamer was used as a new kind of functional monomer and the aptamer-amoxicillin complex was formed by hydrogen bond. Then, the complex was fixed on the surface of the modified electrode by Au–S bond. Three-dimensional imprinted polymeric membrane was formed by electropolymerization of dopamine, and the imprinted sites with good specificity and affinity were formed after elution. Combined with the specificity of molecularly imprinted technology and the affinity of aptamer, the selective recognition of amoxicillin can be realized. Under the optimal experimental conditions, the linear range was from 10 −14 to 10 −8 M, and the detection limit was 3.3 × 10 −15 M. The sensor exhibited satisfactory selectivity, repeatability, and stability and was successfully used for 10 −9 M amoxicillin determination in real water and food samples. Graphical abstract