Applications of Molecularly Imprinted Polymers

Applications of Molecularly Imprinted Polymers in Immuno-Like Assays.135... 

Abstract Most analytical applications of molecularly imprinted polymers are based on their selective adsorption properties towards the template or its analogs. In chromatography, solid phase extraction and electrochromatography this adsorption is a dynamic process. The dynamic process combined with the nonlinear adsorption isotherm of the polymers and other factors results in complications which have limited the success of imprinted polymers. This chapter explains these problems and shows many examples of successful applications overcoming or avoiding the problems. 

Caro E et al (2006) Application of molecularly imprinted polymers to solid-phase extraction of compounds from environmental and biological samples. TrAC, Trends Anal Chem 25(2) 143-154... 

Maier NM, Lindner W (2007) Chiral recognition applications of molecularly imprinted polymers a critical review. Anal Bioanal Chem 389(2) 377-397... 

Fig. 4.5 Chromatogram representing print molecule (oxacillin) and two other /3-lactam antibiotics (penicillin G and V) on oxacillin MIP (a) compared with the control blank MIP (b). Reprinted from J. Chromatogr. A, 889, Briiggemann et al. New configurations and applications of molecularly imprinted polymers , 15-24 (2000), with permission...

However, also in this case enantio-selectivities never exceeded the values obtained with the oxazaborolidine in solution, probably because of diffusional limitations within the polymer support, which enhanced the contribution of the non-selective, direct borane reduction of the ketone. In spite of the rather low imprinting effects obtained in these initial attempts, we feel that this approach still represents a most interesting application of molecularly imprinted polymers in catalysis and deserves further attention in the near future. 

Application of molecularly imprinted polymers in competitive ligand binding assays for analysis of biological samples... 

Reactions inside imprinted cavities are another interesting area. Of great importance to the field is catalysis with imprinted polymers and imprinted silicas. For a broader application of molecularly imprinted polymers further improvement of the method will be necessary. The following problems are in the forefront of investigation today ... 

---