A bifunctional monomer molecularly imprinted sensor modified with boronic acid-functionalized carbon dots for detecting azithromycin

Azithromycin (AZM) is regarded as a potential risk to human immunity and ecosystems, which requires an effective method for rapid on-site detection. Herein, a bifunctional monomer molecularly imprinted polymer and boronic acid-functionalized carbon dots (B-CDs) have been applied to develop an innovative sensor for the determination of AZM. The synergistic effects of boronic esters formation by boronic acid groups and non-covalent interaction of imprinted cavities by pyrrole enhance the binding affinity for improved recognition. In addition, the electrode modification strategy of B-CDs and multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNTs) enhance the electron transportation. The constructed sensor exhibited a broad linear detection range (0.2–300 µM), low detection limit (0.12 µM) and significant specificity for AZM (IF = 3.01). Furthermore, it showed satisfactory stability, repeatability and resistance to interference, enabling accurate detection of AZM in milk, serum and urine. This work provides a new avenue for the development of tailored sensitive electrochemical sensors to achieve specific detection. Graphical