P-001

Greta Kasputė [1,2]

greta.kaspute@ftmc.lt

Deivis Plaušinaitis [3], Urtė Prentice [1,2,3,4]

[1] Department of Personalised Medicine, State Research Institute Centre for Innovative Medicine, Santariskiu St. 5, LT-08410, Vilnius, Lithuania. 

[2] Department of Nanotechnology, State Research Institute Center for Physical Sciences and Technology (FTMC), Sauletekio Av. 3, LT-10257 Vilnius, Lithuania. 

[3] Department of Physical Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Geosciences, Vilnius University, Naugarduko St. 24, LT-03225 Vilnius, Lithuania. 

[4] Department of Mechatronics, Robotics and Digital Manufacturing, Faculty of Mechanics, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Plytines St. 25, LT-10105 Vilnius, Lithuania.

Enhancing Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Sensor with Electrochemical Quartz Crystal Microbalance: Insights into Adsorption Dynamics and Sensor Optimization

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) have emerged as versatile materials for applications in diagnostics due to their high specificity and selectivity, comparable to biomolecule interactions, but with lower production costs. By mimicking the size, shape, and functional group arrangement of target molecules, MIPs offer a powerful platform for recognizing and binding specific analytes. Additionally, MIPs are gaining attention for drug delivery systems, as they provide selective recognition, enhanced drug-loading capacities, controlled release properties, and stability under adverse conditions.

However, challenges in MIP design remain, particularly regarding analyte adsorption, desorption, and the removal of template molecules. High analyte adsorption or incomplete removal can compromise the imprinted polymer’s effectiveness, selectivity, and long-term stability. Understanding these processes, alongside the dynamics of template–monomer interactions, polymerization, and binding site formation, is critical for optimizing MIP performance.

This research combines electrochemical methods, such as cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), with electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) setup (combination of electrochemistry and quartz crystal microbalance) to study MIP formation and analyte adsorption processes. The EQCM setup enables real-time, sensitive monitoring of adsorption, diffusion, and kinetics. This study provides valuable insights into the factors affecting MIP formation and functionality by correlating electrochemical responses with adsorption kinetics. The results highlight strategies to improve sensor performance, enhance selectivity, and address challenges in template removal, paving the way for more efficient and stable MIP-based biosensors.