Polydopamine-based molecularly imprinting polymers on magnetic nanoparticles for recognition and enrichment of ochratoxins prior to their determination by HPLC.

A polydopamine-based molecularly imprinted polymer was deposited on the surface of magnetite (ferroferric oxide) nanoparticles (Fe3O4@PDA MIPs) and is shown to be an efficient and fairly specific sorbent for the extraction of various ochratoxins. The MIPs were characterized by IR spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The adsorption capacities, evaluated through the langmuir adsorption isotherm model, are 1.8, 0.23 and 0.17 mg·g-1 for ochratoxin A, ochratoxin B and ochratoxin C, respectively. Parameters such as the amount of magnetic MIPs, pH value, time for ultrasonication, elution solvent and volume were optimized. Following desorption from the MIP with acetonitrile, the ochratoxins were quantified by HPLC with fluorometric detection. Under optimal experimental conditions, the calibration plots are linear in the range of 0.01-1.0 ng·mL-1 of OTA, 0.02-2.0 ng·mL-1 of OTB, and 0.002-0.2 ng·mL-1 of OTC. The LODs are between 1.8 and 18 pg·mL-1, and the recoveries from spiked samples are 71.0% - 88.5%, with RSDs of 2.3-3.8% in case of rice and wine samples. The MIPs can be re-used for at least 7 times. Graphical abstract Schematic of the preparation of a magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer based on self-polymerization of dopamine in weakly alkaline solution. Ochratoxins are recognized owing to homologous cavities in the MIPs, and quantified by HPLC after desorption with acetonitrile.