A voltammetric sensor for acetaminophen based on electropolymerized-molecularly imprinted poly(o-aminophenol) modified gold electrode

A simple and reliable molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) based voltammetric sensor has been proposed for the determination of acetaminophen (AP). Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were initially deposited on the surface of gold electrode (GE) so as to get amplified electrochemical signals. Subsequently, a MIP film was created on the AuNPs modified GE (AuNPs/GE) surface by electropolymerization of o-aminophenol in the presence of AP as the template molecule. Significant parameters governing the performance of the sensor were studied and optimised. The proposed sensor presented a linear behaviour between peak current and concentration of AP in the range 4.5 × 10−5–5.0 × 10−7 M with the limit of detection being 2.3 × 10−9 M. The developed MIP/AuNPs/GE based sensor is simple in preparation and showed excellent selectivity, reproducibility and was successfully applied for the analysis of AP in pharmaceutical formulations and physiological fluids.