Molecularly imprinted photonic hydrogel sensor for optical detection of L-histidine

A molecularly imprinted photonic hydrogel (MIPH) is described for the optical determination of L-histidine (L-His). The inverse opal structure of MIPH was obtained by placing silica particles (230 nm) in molecularly imprinted polymer on a glass slide. After being fully etched by hydrofluoric acid, this inverse opal structure brings about a high specific surface and plentiful binding sites for L-His. If L-His is absorbed by the modified MIPH, its average effective refraction coefficient is increased. This causes the Bragg diffraction peak to be red-shifted by about 34 nm as the concentration of L-His increases from 0 to 100 nM. Much smaller diffraction peak shifts are obtained for other amino acids. The detection limit of this method is 10 pM. The response time towards L-His is as short as 60 s. In addition, the sensor can be recovered by treatment with 0.1 M acetic acid/methanol. It was applied to the determination of L-His in drinks sample.