Molecular Imprinting and Functional Polymers for All Transducers and Applications

Abstract

Abstract:The main challenge in developing a chemical sensor is the synthesis of recognition coatings, which are very sensitive and selective to analytes of interest. Molecular imprinting has proven to be the most innovative strategy for this purpose in functional polymer design in the last few decades. Moreover, the introduction of functional groups brings about new applications for all available transducers. Sensitivity and selectivity features of sensor coatings can be tuned by this approach. The strategy produces molecular cavities and interaction sites in sensor coatings. The synthesis of these tailored recognition materials is performed in an outstanding manner, saving time and the high costs of chemicals. Furthermore, intermolecular interactions between the analyte and chemical layers will generate sites that are complementary to the analyte. This procedure can easily be done, directly on a transducer surface, which entails engulfing the analyte by a prepolymer and crosslinking the polymeric material. These imprinted polymers form a robust recognition layer on the transducer surface, which cannot be peeled off and can withstand very harsh conditions, both in gaseous and liquid media. These recognition materials are very suitable, for small molecules and even large bioparticles.

Quartz crystal microbalance based histidine sensor

“…Among these methods, molecular imprinting (templateassisted synthesis) offering selective and spesific binding sites for template molecule in polymeric network, has been recognized as one of the most promising technique [18][19][20][21]. The formation of tailor-made recognition materials based on the molecular imprinting technique can design a durable recognition layer on the transducer surface such as mass-sensitive devices, optrodes, or electrochemical electrodes [22]. QCM is a mass-sensitive device due to the piezoelectric effect.…”

Recent Advances in Quartz Crystal Microbalance Biosensors Based on the Molecular Imprinting Technique for Disease-Related Biomarkers

“…MIPs are also notable for their perfect physical and chemical stability compared to the biorecognition element [104][105][106][107][108][109][110]. These properties have provided for the application of MIPs in different areas, including purification [111], separation sciences [112], decontamination [113], food safety [114], chemical biosensing [115], microfluidic chip device [116], immunoassays [117], therapy [118], drug delivery [119], and cell imaging [120].…”

Molecularly Imprinted Polymers for Chemical Sensing: A Tutorial Review

“…Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) have seen a continuous development as sensing elements in bio-/chemo-sensors since the late 1990s [1][2][3][4][5][6]. MIPs are attractive not only for their recognition properties that are close to those of natural receptors and their availability for a wide range of targets but also for their superior chemical and physical stability compared to biological receptors.…”