Advancements and prospects of molecularly imprinted polymers as chemical sensors: A comprehensive review

The scientific literature on molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) has grown significantly in the past decades, reflecting an increasing interest in their potential applications. MIPs are valued for their ability to selectively detect a broad range of analytes and mimic biological recognition in different environmental conditions. This review utilises data (Scopus data from 2010 to 2024) from a bibliometric visualisation with VOSviewer (version 1.6.2) to identify trends and research hotspots in developing MIP-based sensors. The findings from this review indicated notable advancements in molecular imprinting technology (MIT) and the challenges MIP technology faces. It also discusses how various optimisation preparation techniques can be used to overcome the inherent limitations of MIP synthesis. The review also presents a case investigation and suggests classifying MIPs as chemosensors (chemical sensors) rather than biosensors to resolve the confusion and classification difficulties encountered in the existing literature on MIP sensors. It also addresses critical issues regarding the paradoxical lack of MIP-based sensors in the commercial market despite a marked increase in scientific output. The review outlines future research directions to enhance MIP sensor technology further. It emphasises the need for more collaboration between academia and industry to bridge existing gaps and accelerate commercialisation.