Fabrication of an electrochemical sensor based on molecularly imprinted polymer for the rapid detection of astaxanthin in environmental samples.

Astaxanthin (ASTX) is a xanthophyll pigment that exhibits strong antioxidant properties, enabling plants to resist stress, promote soil fertility, and enhance environmental health. The detection of ASTX using sensors is vital due to its extensive biological, ecological, and industrial benefits. Currently available techniques, including HPLC-DAD and LC-MS, are efficient but costly, labor-intensive, and require skilled personnel. To address these limitations, we have developed a novel electrochemical platform based on a screen-printed electrode (SPE) modified with a metal-organic framework (MOF) and a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP). SPE facilitates the development of a compact, portable, and user-friendly sensing platform. In addition, the electrodeposition of MOF-UiO-66 (Zr) enhances electrical conductivity, while MIP ensures improved selectivity and sensitivity. The developed platform enables quicker and cheaper detection of ASTX within few seconds. The sensor was further optimized for pH, temperature, concentration, reproducibility, and sensitivity assessment. The present study demonstrated a lower limit of detection of 0.2 nM, with a sensitivity of 0.579 mA/nM, and a broad linear range (0.2 nM to 500 nM), respectively.