Electrochemical detection of caffeine in sports drinks based on molecular imprinting technology

This work presents the development of a novel electrochemical sensor for caffeine detection in sports drinks, utilizing molecular imprinting technology with surface-imprinted nanoparticles. Key to this study is the synthesis of caffeine-imprinted polypyrrole nanoparticles via electropolymerization, which displayed a high specific surface area (25 m²/g) and efficient template binding. The sensor exhibited a notable linear detection range from 30 to 150 µM and a significantly low limit of detection at 2.5 µM. Characterization of the nanoparticles was rigorously conducted using SEM, FTIR, and BET analysis. Optimized sensing conditions were established at pH 5, with a 5 min accumulation time and a scan rate of 50 mV/s, ensuring high sensitivity and selectivity. Practical application was demonstrated through the accurate detection of caffeine in commercially available sports drinks, with recovery rates ranging from 97.6 to 101.5%. This research underscores the potential of molecularly imprinted polymer-based sensors in simplifying and enhancing the detection of caffeine in complex matrices, offering a promising tool for health monitoring and sports performance analysis.