Strategies of molecular imprinting-based fluorescence sensors for chemical and biological analysis

Abstract

One pressing concern today is to construct sensors that can withstand various disturbances for highly selective and sensitive detecting trace analytes in complicated samples. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) with tailor-made binding sites are preferred to be recognition elements in sensors for effective targets detection, and fluorescence measurement assists in highly sensitive detection and user-friendly control. Accordingly, molecular imprinting-based fluorescence sensors (MI-FL sensors) have attracted great research interest in many fields such as chemical and biological analysis. Herein, we comprehensively review the recent advances in MI-FL sensors construction and applications, giving insights on sensing principles and signal transduction mechanisms, focusing on general construction strategies for intrinsically fluorescent or nonfluorescent analytes and improvement strategies in sensing performance, particularly in sensitivity. Construction strategies are well overviewed, mainly including the traditional indirect methods of competitive binding against pre-bound fluorescent indicators, employment of fluorescent functional monomers and embedding of fluorescence substances, and novel rational designs of hierarchical architecture (core-shell/hollow and mesoporous structures), post-imprinting modification, and ratiometric fluorescence detection. Furthermore, MI-FL sensor based microdevices are discussed, involving micromotors, test strips and microfluidics, which are more portable for rapid point-of-care detection and in-field diagnosing. Finally, the current challenges and future perspectives of MI-FL sensors are proposed.

Study of Epitope Imprinting for Small Templates: Preparation of NanoMIPs for Ochratoxin A

“…MIPs are cross‐linked polymeric materials prepared in the presence of a template (target analyte) that serves as a mould for the formation of template‐complementary binding sites . As a result, polymeric materials capable of recognizing the template molecule are obtained ,.…”

“…MIPs are cross‐linked polymeric materials prepared in the presence of a template (target analyte) that serves as a mould for the formation of template‐complementary binding sites . As a result, polymeric materials capable of recognizing the template molecule are obtained ,. These materials are easily and rapidly produced in contrast to antibodies and are more stable in harsh conditions such as low and high pH, high temperature or presence of organic solvents …”

“…[6] This trend follows recent success with development of analytical tools based on Molecularly Imprinted Polymers (MIPs) that mimic binding properties of antibodies. [7] MIPs are cross-linked polymeric materials [8] prepared in the presence of a template (target analyte) that serves as a mould for the formation of template-complementary binding sites. [9] As a result, polymeric materials capable of recognizing the template molecule are obtained.…”

“…[9] As a result, polymeric materials capable of recognizing the template molecule are obtained. [8,10] These materials are easily and rapidly produced in contrast to antibodies and are more stable in harsh conditions such as low and high pH, high temperature or presence of organic solvents. [11] The production of MIPs to OTA has been until now based on bulk polymerization using OTA template or its structural analogues.…”

Molecular Imprinting of Cyclodextrin Supramolecular Hydrogels Improves Drug Loading and Delivery

“…Due to the larger size, and higher molecular complexity of proteins versus small molecule drugs, stronger affinities are possible, and significant advances have been made. These have included generating templates for receptor mimics, fluorescent sensors, pseudoimmunoassays, ligands for targeted drug delivery, protein therapeutics, and others …”