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Published on: April 23, 2013
Molecularly Imprinted Polymers in Electrochemical and Optical Sensors
Omar S Ahmad1, Thomas S Bedwell2, Cem Esen3
1Department of Chemistry, College of Education for Pure Science, University of Mosul, Mosul, Iraq; Department of Chemistry, College of Science and Engineering, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK.
Abstract:
Molecular imprinting is the process of template-induced formation of specific recognition sites in a polymer. Synthetic receptors prepared using molecular imprinting possess a unique combination of properties such as robustness, high affinity, specificity, and low-cost production, which makes them attractive alternatives to natural receptors. Improvements in polymer science and nanotechnology have contributed to enhanced performance of molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) sensors. Encouragingly, recent years have seen an increase in high-quality publications describing MIP sensors for the determination of biomolecules, drugs of abuse, and explosives, driving toward applications of this technology in medical and forensic diagnostics. This review aims to provide a focused overview of the latest achievements made in MIP-based sensor technology, with emphasis on research toward real-life applications.
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