Computational Design and Application of Molecularly Imprinted/MWCNT Based Electrochemical Sensor for the Determination of Silodosin

A novel molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) based electrochemical sensor was developed for differential pulse voltammetric detection of silodosin (SLD), used for enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia; BPH) treatment. A computational design was first applied for optimization of the molar ratio between silodosin (SLD, template): Methacrylic acid (MAA, functional monomer), based on which five polymeric ratios were prepared followed by testing the amount of crosslinker (ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA)), imprinting and rebinding efficiency of the polymer. The ratio 1:4:20 was found to have the highest binding capacity for SLD, and thus, was used as a modifier for the development of modified carbon paste electrodes in presence of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT). The sensor was electrochemically characterized using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements and morphologically using SEM, TEM and BET and its performance was optimized in terms of amounts of MIP, MWCNT, pH and other electrochemical parameters. A linear response range of 1.0x10(-12)-1.0x10(-3) M SLD with a detection limit (S/N=3) of 1.0x10(-13) M was shown. Finally, the MIP-modified carbon paste sensor was successfully used to determine SLD in pure solutions, pharmaceutical formulations and spiked serum and urine samples.