Selective solid-phase extraction of naproxen drug from human urine samples using molecularly imprinted polymer-coated magnetic multi-walled carbon nanotubes prior to its spectrofluorometric determination

Abstract

A drug imprinted polymer based on suspension polymerization on magnetic multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MIPMCNTs) was prepared with a synthesized amidoamine as the functional monomer, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as the cross-linker, naproxen (NAP) as the template and ammonium persulfate as the initiator. The MIPMCNTs were characterized by TEM, FT-IR and XRD measurements. The prepared magnetic adsorbent can be well dispersed in aqueous media and can be easily separated magnetically from the medium after loading with NAP. All the aspects influencing the adsorption (extraction time, adsorbent dosage and pH) and desorption (desorption time and desorption solvent) of the analyte on the MIPMCNTs have been investigated. The extracted NAP could be easily desorbed with a mixture of methanol/sodium hydroxide aqueous solution and determined spectrofluorometrically at λ_em = 353 nm (λ_ex = 271 nm). A linear dynamic range was established from 4.0 to 40.0 ng mL⁻¹ of NAP and the limit of detection (LOD) was found to be 2.0 ng mL⁻¹. In addition, the equilibrium adsorption data of NAP by imprinted polymer were analyzed by Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. The developed method was utilized for the determination of NAP in human urine samples with satisfactory results.