Generation of Janus Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Particles

Janus particles, which have two or more distinct physical surfaces, provide a number of potential applications in many fields. However, it is difficult to selectively load chemical or biological components onto the Janus particles. Here, the approach utilizing molecular imprinting and Pickering emulsion technologies for the synthesis of molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP)-based Janus particles (which showed high affinity to the targets) is described stepwise. As self-propelled microengines possessing specific molecular recognition ability, Janus molecularly imprinted polymer particles show high potential for specific and well-controlled drug delivery.