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Abstract
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Pharmaceutical residues in the environment have become a pressing global concern due to their persistence, bioactivity, and potential risks to ecosystems and human health. Celecoxib, a selective COX 2 inhibitor widely prescribed for inflammatory disorders, is frequently detected in wastewater and surface waters as a result of incomplete removal during conventional treatment processes. Its presence in aquatic environments raises serious questions about long term ecological impacts, bioaccumulation, and the possibility of chronic exposure in humans. Despite these risks, routine monitoring of celecoxib and similar pharmaceuticals remains limited, largely due to the lack of cost effective, portable, and selective analytical methods . Traditional techniques such as high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and mass spectrometry (MS) offer high sensitivity and accuracy, but they are expensive, require sophisticated instrumentation, and demand skilled operators. These limitations make them unsuitable for widespread field monitoring, especially in resource constrained settings. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are synthetic recognition materials prepared by polymerizing functional monomers and cross linkers around a template molecule. Removal of the template leaves binding sites complementary in size, shape, and chemical functionality to the target analyte, enabling selective adsorption. Biopolymer based MIPs, particularly those incorporating cellulose, chitosan, pectin, hyaluronic acid and agar, offer advantages of sustainability, biocompatibility, and hydrophilicity. Hydroxyl groups in these matrices facilitate hydrogen bonding and enhance analyte diffusion, while the hydrogel structure provides mechanical stability and high surface area . Digital image colorimetry (DIC) has emerged as a powerful alternative to conventional spectrophotometric methods, offering portability, simplicity, and cost-effectiveness. Its importance lies in the ability to transform visual
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