Gold Nanoparticles (AuNP) Doped Molecularly Imprinted Polymers (MIP) for Conductivity and Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) Sensors

Tehila Shahar, Chemistry, the Hebrew Univesity of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
Tama Sikron, Chemistry, The Hebrew Univesity of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
Daniel Mandler, Chemistry, The Hebrew Univesity of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIP) have been developed and widely studied as tailor-made synthesized receptors for sensing, separation and catalysis. MIP is a 3D polymeric network with specific binding sites, which is obtained by copolymerizing functional monomers and cross-linker in the presence of a template molecule^1-2. The latter is removed to form cavities that have selective affinity towards the template or similar targets. Assembling conductive MIP particles by gold nanoparticles (AuNP) doping, allows MIP integration in electronic and/or electrochemical devices instead or along with controlling their size not to exceed 10 nm, which will enable fast electron transfer from the analyte to the electrode. Moreover, AuNP doped MIP can be used for surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) measurements. This kind of integrations will open a door to a new world of extremely high selective and accurate sensing systems.

This research offers, for the first time, MIP particles doped with mercaptooctanoic acid stabilized gold nano-particles (MOA-AuNP). The effect of various experimental parameters (such as MOA-AuNP concentration, solvent nature, solution stirring etc.) on the MIP particles obtained were examined, resulting in the development of a fast and simple doping method.

In addition to indirect characterization methods used, such as SEM, TEM, EDS, that confirmed the presence of MOA-AuNP inside the MIP particles, a direct evidence, based on microtome slicing and scanning-transmission electron microscopy (STEM) analysis, was used.

(1) Taguchi, Y.et al., Langmuir 2012, 28, 7083.

(2) Yoshimatsu, Ket al., Anal. Chim. Acta2007, 584, 112.

HAADF (left) and BF (right) STEM of MOA-AuNP doped MIP nanoparticles.


Gold Nanoparticles (AuNP) Doped Molecularly Imprinted Polymers (MIP) for Conductivity and Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) Sensors Tehila Shahar, Chemistry, the Hebrew Univesity of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel Tama Sikron, Chemistry, The Hebrew Univesity of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel Daniel Mandler, Chemistry, The Hebrew Univesity of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIP) have been developed and widely studied as tailor-made synthesized receptors for sensing, separation and catalysis. MIP is a 3D polymeric network with specific binding sites, which is obtained by copolymerizing functional monomers and cross-linker in the presence of a template molecule^1-2. The latter is removed to form cavities that have selective affinity towards the template or similar targets. Assembling conductive MIP particles by gold nanoparticles (AuNP) doping, allows MIP integration in electronic and/or electrochemical devices instead or along with controlling their size not to exceed 10 nm, which will enable fast electron transfer from the analyte to the electrode. Moreover, AuNP doped MIP can be used for surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) measurements. This kind of integrations will open a door to a new world of extremely high selective and accurate sensing systems. This research offers, for the first time, MIP particles doped with mercaptooctanoic acid stabilized gold nano-particles (MOA-AuNP). The effect of various experimental parameters (such as MOA-AuNP concentration, solvent nature, solution stirring etc.) on the MIP particles obtained were examined, resulting in the development of a fast and simple doping method. In addition to indirect characterization methods used, such as SEM, TEM, EDS, that confirmed the presence of MOA-AuNP inside the MIP particles, a direct evidence, based on microtome slicing and scanning-transmission electron microscopy (STEM) analysis, was used. (1) Taguchi, Y.et al., Langmuir 2012, 28, 7083. (2) Yoshimatsu, Ket al., Anal. Chim. Acta2007, 584, 112. HAADF (left) and BF (right) STEM of MOA-AuNP doped MIP nanoparticles.

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