Advanced sensor technologies for niraparib detection: A comparative study of molecularly imprinted polymer and nanosensor systems

Abstract

Poly(adenosine diphosphate [ADP]-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors are crucial for maintenance therapy in ovarian cancer patients with BRCA mutations, with niraparib (NRB) being a significant example in this class of drugs. This study focuses on developing and comparing two distinct sensor technologies, a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP)-based sensor and a nanosensor, for the sensitive and selective detection of NRB. The MIP-based electrochemical sensor was constructed using electropolymerization in the presence of aniline (ANI), 3-aminophenyl boronic acid (3-APBA), and NRB as the template molecule. Conversely, the nanosensor incorporated zinc oxide (ZnO) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) to enhance signal detection. The sensors were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to ensure structural integrity and material composition. The performance of both sensors was optimized, and their analytical capabilities were assessed and compared. The MIPbased sensor demonstrated a concentration range of 2-10 pM with a detection limit (LOD) of 0.408 pM, as measured by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The nanosensor, optimized using adsorptive stripping differential pulse voltammetry (AdSDPV), displayed a broader concentration range of 80-600 nM and a LOD of 0.893 nM. This comparison revealed that the MIP-based sensor had superior sensitivity for NRB detection. Both sensors were successfully applied to the analysis of commercial human serum samples, showing excellent repeatability (n = 5) with a relative standard deviation (RSD) below 2.0 %. Recovery rates were highly satisfactory, ranging from 98.83 % to 101.33 %. These findings underscore the effectiveness of both sensors for precise, selective, and sensitive NRB detection, with the MIP-based sensor offering heightened sensitivity.