Molecular Imprinting with Functional DNA

Abstract

Molecular imprinting refers to templated polymerization with rationally designed monomers, and this is a general method to prepare stable and cost‐effective ligands. This attractive concept however suffers from low affinity, low specificity, and limited signaling mechanisms for binding. Acrydite‐modified DNA oligonucleotides can be readily copolymerized into acrylic polymers. With molecular recognition and catalytic functions, such functional DNAs are recently shown to enhance the performance of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) in a few ways. First, DNA aptamers are used as macromonomers to enhance binding affinity and specificity of MIPs. Second, DNA can help produce optical signals to follow binding events. Third, imprinting can also improve the performance of catalytic DNA by enhancing its activity and specificity toward the template substrate. Finally, MIP is shown to help aptamer selection. Bulk imprinting, nanoparticle imprinting, and surface imprinting are all demonstrated with DNA. Since both DNA and synthetic polymers are cost effective and stable, their hybrid materials still possess such properties while enhancing the function of each component. This review covers recent developments on the abovementioned aspects of DNA‐containing MIPs, a field just emerged in the last five years, and future research directions are discussed toward the end.

Nanozyme‐based luminescence detection

“…Using molecularly imprinted polymers has been shown to solve the selectivity problem of nanozymes [ 24 ] , although imprinting AR or luminol has yet to be demonstrated. [ 115,116 ]…”

Molecular Imprinting Strategies for Tissue Engineering Applications: A Review

“…Mainly developed during the 1970s, MIPs are synthetic receptors able to bind to a template molecule with high selectivity. MIPs offer an attractive solution to replicate biological interactions in synthetic materials, since templates such as DNA [2,3], proteins [4], viruses [5], bacteria [6], or cells [7] can be used. When comparing MIPs with natural antibodies, their key advantage is that the binding sites present high specificity for the template but are also stable and capable of withstanding harsher environmental conditions (e.g., temperature, pH) when compared to natural receptors, thanks to the polymeric component [4,8].…”

Molecular imprinting on amphiphilic folded polymers for selective molecular recognition in water

“…As a result, they self‐fold in water via secondary structure formation to form inherent tertiary structure containing precision nanocavities, in which functional groups are spatially placed at specific position. To create such well‐organized nanospaces in synthetic macromolecules and related materials, molecular imprinting techniques coupled with template molecules have been developed . This imprinting method allows us to make nanospaces that are specifically fitted to template molecules.…”

“…To create such well-organized nanospaces in synthetic macromolecules and related materials, molecular imprinting techniques coupled with template molecules have been developed. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18] This imprinting method allows us to make nanospaces that are specifically fitted to template molecules. Generally, monomers physically interacting with or covalently connecting to templates are crosslinked to give templateembedded polymers and gels.…”