Imprinting techniques in synthetic polymers--new options for chemosensors

Highly selective molecular recognition in synthetic polymers may be the basis for a new type of chemosensor. For the preparation of such polymers, a molecular imprinting procedure during crosslinking is used to generate, with the aid of template molecules, microcavities of specific shape and with a defined arrangement of functional groups. In this review the role of the polymer matrix and the type of binding site interaction is discussed in more detail. Recent attempts to use these polymers as the basis for chemosensors are highlighted.