| Molecular imprinting, in which specific binding sites are created by polymerization of functional monomers in the presence of template molecules followed by their subsequent removal, has been recognized as a powerful tool for the preparation of artificial receptors for specific binding with target molecules. Though molecular imprinting can be employed for the preparation of the recognition sites in chemical sensors, the development of sensors based on molecularly imprinted polymer (MIPs) is relatively slow mainly due to the difficulties in integrating the imprinted polymers to the sensor transducer. The objective of this thesis is to develop sensors for biomolecules based on electrosynthesized imprinted polymer films.;In the first part of this study, molecularly imprinted polymer films of polypyrrole and poly(o-phenylenedamine) have been prepared by electropolymerization on EQCM electrodes in the presence of adenosine-5'-triphoshate disodium salt (ATP). These ATP sensors exhibit high selectivity against ADP and AMP. A pyrrole:ATP mole ratio of 2:1 was found to be the best for the preparation of the MIP polypyrrole films by electropolymerization. On the other hand, the poly(o-phenylenediamine) film has low conductivity and therefore only very thin polymer film could be obtained.;In the second part of this project, a functionalized monomer, glucose-boronatesubstituted aniline, was synthesized by cyclic esterification of glucose with aminophenylboronic acid. Glucose imprinted co-polymer films of boronate-substituted monomer and aniline were prepared by electropolymerization in nonaqueous media and gradually transferred into aqueous media. At physiological pH, the EQCM sensor based on this glucose imprinted polymer film showed linear frequency response toward glucose solution in the concentration range of 2.0 x 10-5 to 7.5 x 10-4 mot dm-3.;In the third part of this study, molecularly imprinted polymer films of acrylamidophenylboronic acid were prepared by electropolymerization on EQCM Au electrodes and Au wire electrodes in the presence of dopamine. After removal of the template molecules, a MIP film with both high affinity towards dopamine and permselectivity against ascorbic acid (AA) was prepared. The electrochemical sensor based on the MIP film was used to detect dopamine at different concentrations at physiological pH by means of preconcentration-stripping. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)... |
