A novel electrochemical sensing with MIP for highly selective and sensitive determination of anticancer drug erlotinib
Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis, vol.280, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Publication Type: Article / Article
- Volume: 280
- Publication Date: 2026
- Doi Number: 10.1016/j.jpba.2026.117611
- Journal Name: Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis
- Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, BIOSIS, Chemical Abstracts Core, Chimica, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCO)
- Keywords: Electrochemical sensor, Erlotinib, Molecularly imprinted polymer, NSCL, Pharmaceutical analysis, ZnO nanoparticles
- Hacettepe University Affiliated: Yes
Abstract
The sensitive and selective determination of targeted anticancer drugs is crucial for pharmaceutical quality control and therapeutic monitoring. Erlotinib (ERL), a tyrosine kinase inhibitor approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of metastatic or locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), requires reliable analytical methods due to its clinical importance and potential impurities. In this study, an ultrasensitive nanomaterial-supported molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP)-based electrochemical sensor was rationally designed for the selective detection of ERL. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) were incorporated to enhance the effective surface area and increase the density of active recognition sites. The polymeric film was synthesized using 3-aminophenyl boronic acid (3-APBA) as the functional monomer, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as the cross-linker, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) as the base monomer, and 2-hydroxy-2-methylpropiophenone as the initiator. The fabricated 3-APBA/ERL/ZnONPs@MIP-modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and cyclic voltammetry (CV). The sensor exhibited a linear response in the range of 1.0 × 10–13–1.0 × 10–12 M (100–1000 fM) with a limit of detection (LOD) of 1.89 × 10–14 M (18.9 fM) and a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 6.30 × 10–14 M (63.0 fM) (r = 0.997). Selectivity and specificity studies demonstrated that ERL could be accurately quantified even in the presence of structurally related drugs and ERL-related impurities at 1000-fold excess, yielding recovery values between 98.40% and 103.76%. The sensor was successfully applied to ERL determination in tablet dosage forms, demonstrating its suitability for pharmaceutical quality control. Furthermore, density functional theory (DFT) and Monte Carlo simulations elucidated the molecular recognition mechanism, revealing a precise “lock-and-key” fit of ERL within the imprinted cavities and supporting a target-induced “site-blocking” sensing mechanism.