A potentiometric chemosensor for selective determination of sertraline was developed based on the molecular imprinting technique. The molecularly imprinted polymer was synthesized by precipitation polymerization, using sertraline hydrochloride as a template molecule, methacrylic acid as a functional monomer and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as a cross-linking agent. The sensor was developed by dispersing the sertraline imprinted polymer particles in dibutyl sebacate plasticizer and embedding in poly(vinyl chloride) matrix. Characteristics of the proposed sensor were evaluated by measuring the potential response to sertraline hydrochloride in the range from 1.0 µmol L-1 to 10 mmol L-1 with a near Nernstian response of 57.7 mV decade-1 and a limit of detection of 0.8 µmol L-1. The potentiometric selectivity coefficients of the proposed sensor were evaluated and it exhibited good selectivity to sertraline with respect to the other antidepressants. It was used as indicator electrode in potentiometric determination of sertraline in tablets and biological fluids.
molecularly imprinted polymers; precipitation polymerization; sertraline; potentiometry; biological fluids
