Limitations and Challenges in the Practical Implementation of MIPs

An ideal molecular recognition platform should have high specificity and ability to selectively capture the targeted molecules from complex biological or other real matrices. Although biological molecular receptors utilizing the biological elements (enzymes, antibodies, etc.) are flawless, but they are expensive, especially in terms of their maintenance under ambient conditions. An effective alternative synthetic analogue is molecularly imprinted polymers (MIP). Molecular imprinting is one of few general, nonbiological methods for creating molecular receptors and it has been proposed as a facilitator to create synthetic intelligent materials having the capability of mimicking biological recognition. An optimal molecular recognition platform comprises of a stable, robust, nonbiological material.