Molecular imprinting: developments and applications in the analytical chemistry field

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Polymer Science
• Separation Science

Background:

• Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are versatile materials utilized in various analytical separation techniques.
• Their key advantage lies in the ability to create selective sorbents for specific target molecules or structural analogues.
• MIPs find applications in liquid chromatography, capillary electrochromatography, capillary electrophoresis, solid phase extraction, immunoassays, and chemical sensors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the diverse applications of molecularly imprinted polymers in analytical separation science.
• To highlight the advantages of MIPs, particularly in solid phase extraction for sample clean-up.
• To discuss the potential of MIPs as alternatives to conventional sorbents and binding entities.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on molecularly imprinted polymer applications in analytical techniques.
• Discussion of MIP preparation protocols, including monolithic capillary columns for capillary electrochromatography.
• Evaluation of MIP performance characteristics such as selectivity, affinity, stability, and ease of preparation.

Main Results:

• Solid phase extraction using MIPs shows significant promise for environmental and biological sample clean-up, yielding cleaner chromatographic traces.
• MIPs are effective as chiral stationary phases in liquid chromatography for enantiomer separations.
• Protocols for creating superporous, monolithic MIP-based capillary columns have been developed for capillary electrochromatography.
• MIPs offer high stability and versatility for assays in both aqueous and organic solvents, making them suitable for biosensors and immunoassays.

Conclusions:

• Molecularly imprinted polymers offer superior selectivity and affinity compared to conventional sorbents in analytical separations.
• Solid phase extraction with MIPs presents a robust method for sample preparation, avoiding chromatographic drawbacks like peak broadening.
• MIPs are highly adaptable materials with broad potential in various analytical techniques, including chromatography, electrophoresis, and biosensing.