In-situ co-electropolymerization of resorcinol/2-aminophenol imprinted on nitrogen-doped carbon nanobox nanocomposite for selective detection of tizanidine

A highly sensitive and selective electrochemical sensor for the detection of tizanidine (TZD) was developed using molecularly imprinted polymers (MIP) combined with nitrogen-doped carbon nanoboxes (N C n-Boxes) on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). Two monomers, resorcinol (Res) and 2-amino phenol (2Aph), were used for the electropolymerization process. The N C n-Boxes provide a conductive and high-surface-area nanostructured substrate that enhances charge-transfer efficiency, while the imprinted polymer introduces selective recognition sites complementary to the molecular structure of TZD. The synergistic combination of these functional materials enables a robust analytical interface with high affinity and excellent discrimination toward TZD. Under optimal conditions, the proposed sensor showed 2 linear response to TZD concentrations in the range of 0.1 ng/mL to 10 μg/mL, with a detection limit of 0.073 ng/mL. The sensor exhibits strong practical applicability, demonstrating reliable performance in real-sample matrices, excellent selectivity in the presence of interfering compounds and exhibited high repeatability and reproducibility. The calculated imprinting factor was found to be 15.7, indicating a strong level of specificity in the imprinting process. The developed sensor offers a fast, sensitive, and selective method for TZD detection and enables its application in real samples, as well as clinical and environmental monitoring. • A novel electrochemical MIP based sensor was developed for sensitive TZD detection. • N C n-Boxes significantly enhanced surface area, electron transfer, and MIP formation. • Resorcinol and 2-aminophenol as functional monomers were used for MIP preparation. • Strong hydrogen-bonding and π–π interaction sites enhancing binding affinity of the MIP sensor. • The calculated 15.7 imprinting factor confirmed high specificity and efficient molecular recognition of the MIP sensor.