Surrogate Imprinting Strategies: Molecular Imprints via Fragments and Dummies
Beatriz Fresco‐Cala, Boris Mizaikoff
Abstract
There is an increasing need to selectively bind, determine, preconcentrate, or filter compounds frequently present at very low concentration levels in a wide variety of complex matrices. Among other strategies, this need has been addressed by MIPs serving as tailorable synthetic molecular recognition motifs. While the generation of MIPs appears synthetically straightforward, their preparation for the determination of toxic, infectious, rare, or unstable species remains a challenge due to the requirement of using the target species as the actual template during synthesis. A viable alternative is, therefore, replacing the target/template by an appropriate surrogate emulating its size, shape, and surface functionality. Functional polymer materials mimicking biological recognition processes are highly relevant and a vital research field with molecularly imprinted materials at the forefront of this development. Next to the fundamental scientific aspects related to these materials, their practical relevance is reflected in a plethora of applications ranging from biomimetic sensors and assays to selective preconcentration and filtration taking advantage of their selective recognition properties. This review aims to highlight recent advances and innovative strategies toward the development of polymers with selective recognition properties prepared via surrogate templates. Advantages and disadvantages of these strategies are discussed and contrasted by selected examples highlighting the features of such materials addressing specifically such delicate templates.