Molecularly imprinted polymer sensors: a bridge to advanced diagnostics

Molecular imprinting technology has resulted in enormous advances in the field of biosensing by providing a new generation of synthetic receptors with high sensitivity, affinity, and specificity. The advances in the manufacturing methods of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) and the successful integration of smart nanomaterials into a variety of MIP sensors pave the way for efficient diagnostics in food, pharmaceutical, and health sectors. Interdisciplinary research efforts have been further contributing to these developments with the aid of computational simulations, innovative epitope imprinting strategies, and the implementation of point-of-care devices. These studies have led to fully synthetic MIP receptors whose affinities are similar to natural recognition elements such as antibodies and enzymes. Moreover, their ease of preparation, low cost, high stability under harsh conditions, and long shelf life make MIP-based sensing systems attractive in various domains. This chapter describes molecular imprinting technology, imprinting approaches, and the most convenient MIP types for sensor applications. It provides an in-depth study of the most prominent MIP sensors and biosensors developed in the last decade for analyte detection in different matrices.