A novel molecularly imprinted technology-based approach for cholic acid detection in complex matrices

Background Quantitative analysis of cholic acid (CA) is a vital component in the assessment of bile acids. Existing methods for the quantitative analysis of CA are often characterized by complicated operations or troublesome pretreatment procedures. To address these challenges, this study pioneers a novel approach by integrating molecular imprinting technology with electrochemical sensing technology. Results This innovative strategy has culminated in the development of a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP)-based electrochemical sensor, which exhibits remarkable efficiency in detecting CA in complex matrices. The sensor demonstrates a limit of detection as low as 2.945 × 10 −3 μg/mL, along with a detection range spanning from 1 × 10 −2 μg/mL to 40 μg/mL. The sensor demonstrates a notable affinity for CA, exhibits high specificity in complex matrices, and consistently performs well in reproducibility experiments and stability tests. The sensor has also been shown to have the capability to detect CA accurately and quantitatively in real sample testing utilizing plasma as the matrix. The detection outcomes of TCM samples analyzed by the sensor exhibited minimal deviation from those of the conventional method, with no requirement for complex pretreatment and a straightforward operational procedure Significance In this study, molecular imprinting technology and electrochemical detection techniques were combined and applied to the detection of CA for the first time. This provided an efficient and economical method for detecting CA content in complex matrices. Furthermore, the sensor is straightforward to fabricate, convenient to carry, and rapid to measure in the field.