Polymeric monolithic materials modified with nanoparticles for separation and detection of biomolecules: a review

Polymer monolithic materials have found particularly utility in the field of bioanalysis, particularly in the area of separation science, for both enrichment and trapping of biomolecules and their analytical/preparative separations. Nanoparticle-modified monoliths have recently emerged as a new class of substrate, with unique characteristics and structure, and with selectively tailored surface chemistries for target molecules. Although several reviews exist on the applications of nanoparticles in analytical science, this review is the first to specifically summarise the applications in bioanalysis of nanoparticle-modified polymer monolithic materials. The review covers the range of nanoparticles being utilised in this way, their specific applications and future trends.