Research progress on molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs)-based sensors for the detection of organophosphorus...

Organophosphorus pesticides (OPs), widely used in agriculture, have become major focuses of research in food safety and environmental pollution control due to their neurotoxicity and environmental persistence. In recent years, molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs)-based sensors have demonstrated tremendous potential in OPs detection due to their high specificity, excellent stability and reusability. This review introduced the fundamental principles and synthesis methods of MIPs. It also provided an in-depth discussion of the applications of eight types of MIPs-based sensors in the quantitative detection of OPs, offering insights into the challenges and future directions for different types of sensors. Furthermore, the review summarized the key challenges faced by MIPs-based sensors and explored future development trends, including the improvement of the specificity, stability and repeatability of MIPs-based sensors, the development of on-site detection technologies, integration with artificial intelligence and big data, and the exploration of green synthesis strategies for MIPs. In the future, MIPs-based sensors are expected to integrate nanomaterials, intelligent algorithms and microfluidic technologies to achieve high sensitivity, strong specificity and enhanced stability, providing efficient and reliable technological support for food safety and environmental monitoring.