Molecularly Imprinted Chitosan-Polyvinyl Alcohol Two-Dimensional Photonic Hydrogel for Detecting Hormones

Dexamethasone sodium phosphate (DSP) and betamethasone sodium phosphate (BSP) are synthetic corticosteroids used for anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive purposes. However, prolonged use may cause severe side effects, necessitating sensitive detection methods. Conventional techniques often suffer from complexity, signal interference, and a lack of real-time capability. This study develops molecularly imprinted 2D photonic hydrogels (DSP/BSP-MIPH) for selective, sensitive, and regenerable detection of DSP and BSP. The DSP-MIPH sensor exhibits swelling in DSP solution, enabling linear detection in three ranges (0.1–9, 10–100, and 100–1000 µM) with a limit of detection (LoD) of 41 nM. BSP-MIPH shows shrinkage upon binding, with linear responses in 0.05–1 and 5–1000 µM ranges and a LoD of 28 nM. The limits of quantitation are 1.2 µM and 146 nM for DSP and BSP, respectively. The opposite volume changes stem from distinct hydrogen bonding interactions between drug functional groups and the hydrogel network. The sensors successfully quantify DSP and BSP in commercial injections, achieving recovery rates of 96.7%–109.5% for DSP and 97.9%–104.8% for BSP, with RSDs 3.91%–6.21% for DSP and 3.57%–5.76% for BSP. These results demonstrate that the MIPH sensors provide accurate, reliable, and straightforward detection for DSP and BSP in real samples, giving a promising strategy for precise hormone drug monitoring.