Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Based Chemiluminescence Method for Detection of Nitrofurans

In this study, a molecularly imprinted polymer capable of simultaneously recognising seven nitrofurans is synthesised. The polymer particles coated the wells of a conventional 96-well microplate as the recognition element. After sample loading, the analytes were absorbed and a highly sensitive imidazole-enhanced bis(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl) oxalate–H2O2 system was added to excite light emission. After optimisation of several parameters, the chemiluminescence method was used to determine the seven nitrofurans in animal feeds. Results showed that the method achieved ultrahigh sensitivity for the seven drugs with limits of detection of 5–12 pg mL−1, and one assay was finished within 10 min. In addition, the polymer-coated plate could be reused five times. The recoveries from the standard fortified blank feed samples were in the range of 74.8–97.4 %. From a comparison with a high performance liquid chromatography method, the molecularly imprinted polymer based chemiluminescence method could be used as a simple, rapid, sensitive, and recyclable tool to monitor the abuse of nitrofurans in animal feeds.