Molecular imprinting of peptides and proteins in aqueous media

Molecular imprinting has received significant attention in recent years, as it provides a viable method for creating synthetic receptors capable of selectively recognizing specific target molecules. Despite significant growth within the field, the majority of template molecules studied thus far have been characterized by their low molecular weight and insolubility in aqueous systems. In biological systems, molecular recognition events occur in aqueous media. Therefore, in order to create molecularly imprinted polymers capable of mimicking biological processes, it is necessary to synthesize artificial receptors which can selectively recognize their respective target biological macromolecules such as peptides and proteins in aqueous media. In this review, we discuss the challenges associated with the imprinting of peptides and proteins in aqueous media. In addition, we discuss the significant progress which has been made within the field.