An antibody-free molecularly imprinted electrochemical sensor reinforced by Ti3C2@UiO-66-NH2 nanocomposites for rapid detection of lactoferrin in dairy products.

Abstract

Lactoferrin (LF) is widely used in healthcare and food industry as an antibacterial and functional additive. Its complex structure makes rapid detection challenging. Here, an antibody-free molecularly imprinted (MIP) electrochemical sensor was developed using Ti3C2 MXene and UiO-66-NH2 nanomaterials to construct an imprinted layer for the rapid and efficient detection of LF in dairy products. The incorporation of Ti3C2 MXene@UiO-66-NH2@PPy (TiPU) enhanced the surface area and conductivity of the material, and MIP provided specific cavities that were precisely matched to LF in terms of size, shape, and chemical functional groups. Molecular docking simulations confirmed the reliability of LF MIP compound formation. The synthesized nanocomposites (MIP-TiPU) were characterized by various methods, including their morphology, structure, and electrochemical properties. The MIP-TiPU modified electrochemical sensor displayed an outstanding sensing performance for LF detection, with a wide linear response range from 5 ng/mL to 500 ng/mL and a low detection limit (0.98 ng/mL).