Imprinted nanomaterials: a new class of synthetic receptors

The molecular imprinting approach provides a unique opportunity for the creation of three-dimensional cavities with tailored recognition properties. Over the last decade this field has expanded considerably, across a variety of disciplines, leading to novel approaches and many potential applications. Progress in the field of materials science has led to significant breakthroughs and the application of the imprinting approach to novel polymeric formats offers new insights and attractive methods for the preparation of synthetic receptors. In particular, nanomaterials have received considerable attention in the developing field of nanotechnology. With a large number of recent developments in the field of molecular imprinting available, this article is focused on a selection of new systems, in particular the different formats of nanomaterials, such as nanogels, nanofibres, nanowires and nanotubes.