Molecular imprinting technology (MIT), often described as a method of making a molecular lock to match a molecular key, is a technique for the creation of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) with tailor-made binding sites complementary to the template molecules in shape, size and functional groups. Owing to their unique features of structure predictability, recognition specificity and application universality, MIPs have found a wide range of applications in various fields. Herein, we propose to comprehensively review the recent advances in molecular imprinting including versatile perspectives and applications, concerning novel preparation technologies and strategies of MIT, and highlight the applications of MIPs. The fundamentals of MIPs involving essential elements, preparation procedures and characterization methods are briefly outlined. Smart MIT for MIPs is especially highlighted including ingenious MIT (surface imprinting, nanoimprinting, etc.), special strategies of MIT (dummy imprinting, segment imprinting, etc.) and stimuli-responsive MIT (single/dual/multi-responsive technology). By virtue of smart MIT, new formatted MIPs gain popularity for versatile applications, including sample pretreatment/chromatographic separation (solid phase extraction, monolithic column chromatography, etc.) and chemical/biological sensing (electrochemical sensing, fluorescence sensing, etc.). Finally, we propose the remaining challenges and future perspectives to accelerate the development of MIT, and to utilize it for further developing versatile MIPs with a wide range of applications (650 references).

http://ir.yic.ac.cn/bitstream/133337/17045/1/Molecular%20imprinting%20perspectives%20and%20applications.pdf

Molecular imprinting: perspectives and applications

Herein, we present a survey of the literature covering the development of molecular imprinting science and technology over the years 2004-2011. In total, 3779 references to the original papers, rev ...

Molecular imprinting science and technology: a survey of the literature for the years 2004-2011.

This paper reviews the recent developments in bioanalysis sample preparation techniques and gives an update on basic principles, theory, applications and possibilities for automation, and a comparative discussion on the advantages and limitation of each technique. Conventional liquid-liquid extraction (LLE), protein precipitation (PP) and solid-phase extraction (SPE) techniques are now been considered as methods of the past. The last decade has witnessed a rapid development of novel sample preparation techniques in bioanalysis. Developments in SPE techniques such as selective sorbents and in the overall approach to SPE, such as hybrid SPE and molecularly imprinted polymer SPE, have been addressed. Considerable literature has been published in the area of solid-phase micro-extraction and its different versions, e.g. stir bar sorptive extraction, and their application in the development of selective and sensitive bioanalytical methods. Techniques such as dispersive solid-phase extraction, disposable pipette extraction and micro-extraction by packed sorbent offer a variety of extraction phases and provide unique advantages to bioanalytical methods. On-line SPE utilizing column-switching techniques is rapidly gaining acceptance in bioanalytical applications. PP sample preparation techniques such as PP filter plates/tubes offer many advantages like removal of phospholipids and proteins in plasma/serum. Newer approaches to conventional LLE techniques (salting-out LLE) are also covered in this review article.

Recent advances in sample preparation techniques for effective bioanalytical methods

Towards non-toxic solvents for membrane preparation: a review

Recent developments and future trends in solid phase microextraction techniques towards green analytical chemistry.

Selective solid-phase extraction of dibutyl phthalate from soybean milk using molecular imprinted polymers

Herein, carboxymethyl cellulose sodium (CMCNa)/graphene oxide (GO) hydrogel microparticles (CGs) with diameters of 2.2–3.6 μm were prepared facilely via spray drying. The as-prepared CGs were used as adsorbents for the removal of methylene blue (MB), Eosin Y and various heavy metal ions. The results revealed that the adsorption capacities of the CG with 8 wt% GO increased by 340–354% for the dyes and 350–500% for heavy metal ions, in comparison with the pristine CMCNa reference. Moreover, the microparticle structure also endowed the CGs with high adsorption kinetics as the adsorption equilibrium for all pollutants was commonly reached within 30 min. The adsorption mechanisms for dyes were due to both electrostatic and π–π interactions, while those for heavy metals were the synergistic effect of electrostatic interactions, surface complexation and ion exchange. Further investigation indicated that the adsorption isotherms and kinetics can be well fitted by the Langmuir isotherm model and the pseudo-second-order model, respectively. By adjusting the GO content and solution pH, the adsorption capacities of our CGs can be further improved. The unique adsorption properties of our CGs, together with the spray drying method, make them very promising in the mass production of broad-spectrum adsorbents for water purification.

Facile fabrication of carboxymethyl cellulose sodium/graphene oxide hydrogel microparticles for water purification

Preparation and evaluation of molecularly imprinted solid-phase micro-extraction fibers for selective extraction of phthalates in an aqueous sample

Molecularly imprinted microspheres (MIMs) were prepared by suspension polymerization for the binding and recognition of dibutyl phthalate (DBP). DBP was used as the template molecule, methacrylic acid as the functional monomer, ethylene dimethacrylate (EDMA) as the linking agent, PVA as the dispersing agent, and Span 60 as the surfactant. The MIMs were characterized with electron microscope scanning and rebinding experiments. The Scatchard plot revealed that the template-polymer system has a two-site binding behavior with dissociation constants of 4.05 and 0.515 mmol/L. The MIMs exhibited the highest selective rebinding to DBP at 736.85 μg/g. The recoveries of the MIM-SPE column for DBP extraction was 94.75-101.9% with the RSD of 1.5-7.3%, indicating the feasibility of the prepared MIMs for DBP extraction. Finally, the method developed was used to analyze the trace levels of phthalate in aqueous environment samples.

Preparation and characterization of molecularly imprinted microspheres for dibutyl phthalate recognition in aqueous environment

A prepared molecularly imprinted polymer with ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate as template molecule was applied for the first time to a homemade solid-phase microextraction fiber. The molecularly imprinted polymer-coated solid-phase microextraction fiber was characterized by scanning electron microscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. Various parameters were investigated, including extraction temperature, extraction time, and desorption time. Under the optimum extraction conditions, the molecularly imprinted polymer-coated solid-phase microextraction fiber exhibited higher selectivity with greater extraction capacity toward parabens compared with the nonimprinted polymer-coated solid-phase microextraction fiber and commercial fibers. The molecularly imprinted polymer-coated solid-phase microextraction fiber was tested using gas chromatography to determine parabens, including methyl p-hydroxybenzoate, ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate, and propyl p-hydroxybenzoate. The linear ranges were 0.01-10 μg/mL with a correlation coefficient above 0.9943. The detection limits (under signal-to-noise ratio of 3) were below 0.30 μg/L. The fiber was successfully applied to the simultaneous analysis of three parabens in spiked soy samples with satisfactory recoveries of 95.48, 97.86, and 92.17%, respectively. The relative standard deviations (n=6) were within 2.83-3.91%. The proposed molecularly imprinted polymer-coated solid-phase microextraction method is suitable for selective extraction and determination of trace parabens in food samples.

Preparation and selective recognition of a novel solid-phase microextraction fiber combined with molecularly imprinted polymers for the extraction of parabens in soy sample.

Juan He

Papers

Selective solid-phase extraction of dibutyl phthalate from soybean milk using molecular imprinted polymers

Facile fabrication of carboxymethyl cellulose sodium/graphene oxide hydrogel microparticles for water purification

Preparation and evaluation of molecularly imprinted solid-phase micro-extraction fibers for selective extraction of phthalates in an aqueous sample

Preparation and characterization of molecularly imprinted microspheres for dibutyl phthalate recognition in aqueous environment

Preparation and selective recognition of a novel solid-phase microextraction fiber combined with molecularly imprinted polymers for the extraction of parabens in soy sample.