Development of a ferrocenyl-based MIP in supercritical carbon dioxide: towards an electrochemical sensor for bisphenol A

This work describes the development of a molecular imprinted polymer (MIP)-based disposable sensor for Bisphenol A (BPA). Ferrocenylmethyl methacrylate (FMMA) was co-polymerized with ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) for the first time using supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO₂) as porogenic solvent. This polymer was developed with affinity for BPA by molecular imprinting technique and characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), average particle size diameter and particle size distribution. Binding performance was evaluated through affinity and selectivity tests in aqueous media. MIP performance as an electrochemical sensor was studied on commercial carbon screen-printed electrodes in the presence of BPA by differential pulse voltammetry. The results show the successful detection of the BPA characteristic irreversible oxidation peak, and the increase in the current intensity response with BPA concentration (4.7–8 nM), opening a route for the development of cost-effective disposable sensitive sensors for BPA using MIP.