Sub-Micron Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Particles for Cortisol Detection

Molecularly imprinted polymers are synthetic biorecognition elements that hold advantages, such as environmental stability and cost, over their natural counterparts (e.g. enzymes). This work presents a new method to make sub-micron cortisol molecularly imprinted polymer particles, with a mean size of 345nm. Plasticized and unplasticized polyvinyl chloride was then electrochemically evaluated as a potential host polymer for these particles into a selective membrane. Initial measurements show evidence that both plasticized and unplasticized polyvinyl chloride may not be suitable, due to lack of stability. The findings are instructive for future research laying the foundations towards a low-cost sensing platform.