Molecularly imprinted sensor for isoborneol based on multilayered thin films of imprinted TiO2 nanoparticles

In this paper we describe the development of a novel molecularly imprinted sensor (MIS) for detection of isoborneol (ISO) in aqueous solutions. The MIS device consisted of an interdigitated microelectrode coated with a multilayered thin film of TiO
₂
nanoparticles and sodium sulfonated polystyrene (np-TiO
₂
/PSS) assembled via electrostatic layer-by-layer. Isoborneol was previously imprinted within np-TiO
₂
that was used in the MIS assembly. Kinetics of imprinted and non-imprinted matrix were evaluated by UV-vis spectroscopy. Time dependence on adsorption was only noted after the deposition of the second bilayer, whereas for the first one almost the same amount of material was adsorbed, regardless the immersion time. Also, it was observed that the amount of np-TiO
₂
deposited onto the microelectrodes increases linearly with the number of np-TiO
₂
/PSS bilayers. Moreover, pre-coating the microelectrodes enhances np-TiO
₂
adhesion.