Research progress on core preparation variables, detection methods, and sensing performances of molecularly imprinted...

Aflatoxins (AFs) are difuranocoumarin toxins with main types including AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, AFG2, AFM1, and AFM2. These toxins are frequently detected in grain and oil products, agricultural raw materials, and Chinese medicinal herbs, posing a severe threat to human health and food safety. Molecularly imprinted technology (MIT) exhibits distinct advantages such as high specificity, broad applicability, and excellent stability. Its core materials, molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs), enable the precise recognition and enrichment of trace AFs in complex matrices, thereby addressing the limitations (e.g., low specificity and poor stability) of traditional detection techniques. Understanding the design, preparation, and sensing performance of MIPs is crucial for developing highly sensitive and specific AFs sensors. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the core preparation variables (dummy templates, functional monomers, initiation methods, crosslinkers, porogens, template elution solvents, and polymerization methods), detection methods, and sensing performance of MIPs for AFs determination. It also provides valuable guidelines for the development of MIP-based AFs detection technologies and supports safety control in the food, feed, and Chinese medicinal herb fields.