Supportless electrochemical sensor based on molecularly imprinted polymer modified nanoporous microrod for determination of dopamine at trace level.

In this work, we developed a novel freestanding metallic microrod as working electrode for highly sensitive and selective electrochemical detection of trace dopamine (DA). The electrode was facilely fabricated via first dealloying smooth Au-Ag alloy microrod (AMR) into nanoporous Au-Ag alloy microrod (NPAMR) and further modifying with electro-polymerized molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP). Influencing factors during electro-polymerization process including pH value and molar ratio of monomer to template molecule were optimized. Under the optimal conditions, a linear range from 2 × 10(-13) to 2 × 10(-8)M for measuring DA was obtained with an ultralow detection limit of 7.63 × 10(-14)M (S/N=3). In addition, the MIP-modified electrode (MIP/NPAMR) was successfully employed to test DA in serum and brain samples.