Molecular imprinting science and technology: a survey of the literature for the years up to and including 2003

The technique of molecular imprinting allows the formation of specific recognition and catalytic sites in macromolecules by the use of templates. Molecularly imprinted polymers have been applied in an increasing number of applications where molecular binding events are of interest. These include (i) the use of molecularly imprinted polymers as tailor-made separation materials, (ii) antibody and receptor binding site mimics in recognition and assay systems, (iii) enzyme mimics for catalytic applications, and (iv) recognition elements in bio-sensors. The stability and low cost of molecularly imprinted polymers make them advantageous for use in analysis as well as in industrial scale production and application.

The Emerging Technique of Molecular Imprinting and Its Future Impact on Biotechnology

Synthetic strategies for the generation of molecularly imprinted organic polymers.

Molecular imprinting is a technique for producing chemically selective binding sites, which recognize a particular molecule, in a macroporous polymer matrix. This paper reviews recent advances in imprinting methodology, particularly emphasizing some recently introduced functional monomers and methods which directly yield polymeric material suitable for chromatography. Following this, attempts to incorporate imprinted polymers into a range of analytical methodologies are critically discussed, with some pointers to likely directions for future research.

Molecularly imprinted polymers : useful materials for analytical chemistry ?

Molecular imprinting techniques allow the preparation of polymeric receptors which bind small molecules with affinities and selectivities of the same order as those observed in the binding of antigens by antibodies. The molecular imprinting technology has now reached a stage where the commercial use of imprinted materials is being assessed, notably for separations requiring strong and selective binding of small molecules. This development is driven by the potential advantages of polymeric receptors over biological in terms of stability, capacity, cost and ease of preparation. In this short review the state of the art of noncovalent imprinting is summarised indicating a few areas in analytical chemistry where the technique may have future impact.

J. Lenfeld

Papers

Molecular imprinting of flat polycondensed aromatic molecules in macroporous polymers