Rational design of molecularly imprinted polymers

Research Progress of Natural Rubber Wet Mixing Technology

The performance of natural rubber (NR), a naturally occurring and sustainable material, can be greatly enhanced by adding different fillers to the NR matrix. The homogeneous dispersion of fillers in the NR matrix is a key factor in their ability to reinforce. As a novel method, wet mixing technology may effectively provide good filler dispersion in the NR matrix while overcoming the drawbacks of conventional dry mixing. This study examines the literature on wet mixing fillers, such as graphene, carbon nanotubes, silica, carbon black, and others, to prepare natural rubber composites. It also focuses on the wet preparation techniques and key characteristics of these fillers. Furthermore, the mechanism of filler reinforcement is also examined. To give guidance for the future development of wet mixing technology, this study also highlights the shortcomings of the current system and the urgent need to address them.

Electric Field-Assisted Molecularly Imprinted Polymer-Modified QCM Sensor for Enhanced Detection of Immunoglobulin

In this study, an electric-field-assisted molecularly imprinted polymer (EFAMIP) as an enhanced form of MIP was developed to improve the MIP-modified quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) biosensors. While exerting a vertical electric field, polymerization of methacrylic acid in the presence of immunoglobulin G (IgG) as the template was initiated, and later, after the template removal process, the EFAMIPs were obtained. The polymer surface characterization was conducted by using a scanning electron microscope. The impact of electric field direction on IgG binding sites, forming either EFAMIP-Fab or EFAMIP-Fc, was assessed. Next, the static measurement results in liquid for EFAMIP-modified QCM and MIP-modified QCM were compared. While encompassing IgG, EFAMIP-modified QCMs exhibited up to a 113.5% higher frequency shift than typical MIP in time-limited detection. The final frequency shift of EFAMIP, which determines the detection limit of IgG, was improved up to 12.5% compared to typical MIP. Moreover, the EFAMIP-Fab performance was promising for the selective detection of IgG in a solution containing different types of immunoglobulins.

Signal transduction interfaces for field-effect transistor-based biosensors

Biosensors based on field-effect transistors (FETs) are suitable for use in miniaturized and cost-effective healthcare devices. Various semiconductive materials can be applied as FET channels for biosensing, including one- and two-dimensional materials. The signal transduction interface between the biosample and the channel of FETs plays a key role in translating electrochemical reactions into output signals, thereby capturing target ions or biomolecules. In this Review, distinctive signal transduction interfaces for FET biosensors are introduced, categorized as chemically synthesized, physically structured, and biologically induced interfaces. The Review highlights that these signal transduction interfaces are key in controlling biosensing parameters, such as specificity, selectivity, binding constant, limit of detection, signal-to-noise ratio, and biocompatibility.

Enhancing the mechanical strength of 3D printed GelMA for soft tissue engineering applications

Gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) hydrogels have gained significant traction in diverse tissue engineering applications through the utilization of 3D printing technology. As an artificial hydrogel possessing remarkable processability, GelMA has emerged as a pioneering material in the advancement of tissue engineering due to its exceptional biocompatibility and degradability. The integration of 3D printing technology facilitates the precise arrangement of cells and hydrogel materials, thereby enabling the creation of in vitro models that simulate artificial tissues suitable for transplantation. Consequently, the potential applications of GelMA in tissue engineering are further expanded. In tissue engineering applications, the mechanical properties of GelMA are often modified to overcome the hydrogel material's inherent mechanical strength limitations. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in enhancing the mechanical properties of GelMA at the monomer, micron, and nano scales. Additionally, the diverse applications of GelMA in soft tissue engineering via 3D printing are emphasized. Furthermore, the potential opportunities and obstacles that GelMA may encounter in the field of tissue engineering are discussed. It is our contention that through ongoing technological progress, GelMA hydrogels with enhanced mechanical strength can be successfully fabricated, leading to the production of superior biological scaffolds with increased efficacy for tissue engineering purposes.

Linear and ring polypeptides complexed with oppositely charged surfactants: the cohesion of the complexes as revealed in atomistic simulations

The use of linear supercharged unfolded polypeptides (SUPs) and oppositely charged surfactants in aqueous solution has demonstrated impressive adhesive properties. These substances possess biocompatibility, biodegradability and other necessary properties for practical application as a biomedical glue in wound repair. The success of these substances, coupled with limited knowledge about such systems, provides hope for enhancing the performance of the final product. One potential approach involves altering the topology of the polypeptide chain. In this article, we conduct a comparative analysis to examine the behavior of the ring and linear chains of a polypeptide in aqueous solution. This analysis utilizes full-atomic computer modeling to monitor the properties of the chains. We investigate the temperature dependence of the shape and size of individual polypeptides in the solution, as well as the formation of complexes via mixing the polypeptide chains with oppositely charged sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS) surfactant molecules in a stoichiometric ratio. Additionally, we explore the cohesive properties of the resulting complex through power experiments involving the extraction of single polypeptide chains out of the SUP-SDBS complexes.

Variable stiffness soft robotic gripper: design, development, and prospects

The advent of variable stiffness soft robotic grippers furnishes a conduit for exploration and manipulation within uncharted, non-structured environments. The paper provides a comprehensive review of the necessary technologies for the configuration design of soft robotic grippers with variable stiffness, serving as a reference for innovative gripper design. The design of variable stiffness soft robotic grippers typically encompasses the design of soft robotic grippers and variable stiffness modules. To adapt to unfamiliar environments and grasp unknown objects, a categorization and discussion have been undertaken based on the contact and motion manifestations between the gripper and the things across various dimensions: points contact, lines contact, surfaces contact, and full-bodies contact, elucidating the advantages and characteristics of each gripping type. Furthermore, when designing soft robotic grippers, we must consider the effectiveness of object grasping methods but also the applicability of the actuation in the target environment. The actuation is the propelling force behind the gripping motion, holding utmost significance in shaping the structure of the gripper. Given the challenge of matching the actuation of robotic grippers with the target scenario, we reviewed the actuation of soft robotic grippers. We analyzed the strengths and limitations of various soft actuation, providing insights into the actuation design for soft robotic grippers. As a crucial technique for variable stiffness soft robotic grippers, variable stiffness technology can effectively address issues such as poor load-bearing capacity and instability caused by the softness of materials. Through a retrospective analysis of variable stiffness theory, we comprehensively introduce the development of variable stiffness theory in soft robotic grippers and showcase the application of variable stiffness grasping technology through specific case studies. Finally, we discuss the future prospects of variable stiffness grasping robots from several perspectives of applications and technologies.

Elucidation of the Binding Orientation in α2,3- and α2,6-Linked Neu5Ac-Gal Epitopes toward a Hydrophilic Molecularly Imprinted Monolith

N-Acetylneuraminic acid and its α2,3/α2,6-glycosidic linkages with galactose (Neu5Ac-Gal) are major carbohydrate antigen epitopes expressed in various pathological processes, such as cancer, influenza, and SARS-CoV-2. We here report a strategy for the synthesis and binding investigation of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) toward α2,3 and α2,6 conformations of Neu5Ac-Gal antigens. Hydrophilic imprinted monoliths were synthesized from melamine monomer in the presence of four different templates, namely, N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac), N-acetylneuraminic acid methyl ester (Neu5Ac-M), 3'-sialyllactose (3SL), and 6'-sialyllactose (6SL), in a tertiary solvent mixture at temperatures varying from -20 to +80 °C. The MIPs prepared at cryotemperatures showed a preferential affinity for the α2,6 linkage sequence of 6SL, with an imprinting factor of 2.21, whereas the α2,3 linkage sequence of 3SL resulted in nonspecific binding to the polymer scaffold. The preferable affinity for the α2,6 conformation of Neu5Ac-Gal was evident also when challenged by a mixture of other mono- and disaccharides in an aqueous test mixture. The use of saturation transfer difference nuclear magnetic resonance (STD-NMR) on suspensions of crushed monoliths allowed for directional interactions between the α2,3/α2,6 linkage sequences on their corresponding MIPs to be revealed. The Neu5Ac epitope, containing acetyl and polyalcohol moieties, was the major contributor to the sequence recognition for Neu5Ac(α2,6)Gal(β1,4)Glc, whereas contributions from the Gal and Glc segments were substantially lower.

Amphiphilic perylene diimide-based fluorescent hemispherical aggregates as probes for metal ions

The self-assembly behaviour of a newly synthesized amphiphilic core-positioned thioester appended with carboxylic acid functionalized perylene diimide derivative is studied in different organic solvents. Fluorescent J-type hemispherical aggregates are formed in THF solution. The effect of added metal ions on these fluorescent aggregates is evaluated using spectroscopic techniques, where we found these probes bind selectively to Fe³⁺ and Ba²⁺ ions. Two equivalents of Fe³⁺ ions bind cooperatively to one equivalent of perylene diimide derivative in the hemispherical aggregates with a binding constant of 1.4×10⁷ M^-1 and the limit of detection (LOD) was calculated to be 8.66×10^-6 M. The positive cooperative binding effect of Fe³⁺ ions towards hemispherical aggregates equipped with perylene diimide derivatives leads to supramolecular polymerization. Ba²⁺ ions showed selectivity and sensitivity towards the fluorescent aggregates in THF by quenching the fluorescence intensity completely. The linear Stern-Volmer plot with a Stern-Volmer constant value of 502.6 M^-1 signifies the heavy atom effect of Ba²⁺ ions, leading to fluorescence quenching. The morphological transformation of the fluorescent J-type hemispherical aggregates in the presence of Fe³⁺ and Ba²⁺ was studied in detail using electron microscopy.

Mechanical characteristics analysis and control algorithm for floating raft system with mass variation

The ship floating raft system adopts the integrated design of large liquid tanks and rafts, which can optimize the arrangement in the cabin and increase the intermediate mass of the system to achieve efficient vibration isolation of equipment. One of the major challenges is that the change of liquid mass in the tank will cause displacement of the raft, which will change the modal characteristics of the system and affect the stability of the vibration isolation system performance. This paper establishes a mechanical analysis model of a floating raft system under time-varying liquid mass conditions. Taking a ship variable mass floating raft system as the research object, the effect of mass change on the characteristics of raft displacement, isolator load distribution, and modal frequency of the vibration isolation system is analyzed. The analysis shows that when the liquid tank goes from full load to no-load state, its mass change accounts for 40% of the total mass of the raft, which will cause a large displacement of the raft and change the low order modal frequency of the system, bringing the risk of equipment safety and vibration isolation performance degradation. Therefore, an adaptive variable load control method is proposed to realize the raft attitude balance and load equalization optimization under the variable mass condition of the floating raft air spring system. The test results show that the proposed control method can automatically adapt to the large mass gradual change from full load to no load of the liquid tank on the raft, and control the displacement of the raft structure from about 10 mm to 1.5 mm, which effectively ensures the stability of the air spring system performance.

Optimization of Magnetic and Paper-Based Molecularly Imprinted Polymers for Selective Extraction of Charantin in Momordica charantia

Charantin is a mixture of β-sitosterol and stigmastadienol glucosides, which effectively lowers high blood glucose. Novel molecularly imprinted polymers coated magnetic nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄@MIPs) and filter paper (paper@MIPs) were synthesized by sol-gel polymerization to selectively extract charantin. β-sitosterol glucoside was selected as a template for imprinting a specific recognition owing to its larger molecular surface area than that of 5,25-stigmastadienol glucoside. Factorial designs were used to examine the effects of the types of porogenic solvents and cross-linkers on the extraction efficiency and imprinting factor before investigating other factors (for example, amounts of template and coated MIPs, and types of substrates for MIP immobilization). Compared to traditional liquid-liquid extraction, the optimal Fe₃O₄@MIP-based dispersive micro-solid phase extraction and paper@MIP extraction provided excellent extraction efficiency (87.5 ± 2.1% and 85.0 ± 2.9%, respectively) and selectivity. Charantin was well separated, and a new unidentified sterol glucoside was observed using the developed high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection (Rs ≥ 2.0, n > 16,400). The developed methods were successfully utilized to extract and quantify charantin from M. charantia fruit powder and herbal products. Moreover, these methods are rapid (<10 min), inexpensive, simple, reproducible, and environmentally friendly.

Molecularly imprinted polymer specific to creatinine complex with copper(II) ions for voltammetric determination of creatinine

Synthesis of creatinine-imprinted polymer is challenging because of its insolubility in aprotic solvents, traditionally utilized for synthesizing molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP). Moreover, creatinine is not electroactive at conventional electrodes, and thus, introducing an electrochemical sensing platform for its determination is a difficult target. This study addressed the above-cited issues to introduce a novel creatinine voltammetric sensor with high selectivity and sensitivity. Creatinine-copper complex was found to be soluble in acetonitrile and was utilized as a template for the MIP synthesis. Methacrylic acid, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, and azobisisobutyronitrile were used as functional monomers, cross-linker, and initiator, respectively. The MIP holding creatinine sites were used to modify the carbon paste electrode. Since creatinine did not exhibit a significant voltammetric signal, an indirect sensing technique was employed. This was based on using Cu(II) ion as an electrochemical probe. The MIP-modified electrode signal for copper ion was significantly improved in the presence of creatinine. However, the introduction of creatinine in the Cu(II) solution did not affect the NIP-modified electrode response to copper ion. The proposed sensor indicated a linear current response in the range 1 × 10^-7-1 × 10^-5 mol L^-1 with a detection limit of 5.9 × 10^-8 mol L^-1 (S/N = 3). Moreover, this method presents excellent performance in real sample analysis, with values of favorable creatinine recovery in plasma. The system exhibits acceptable precision (RSD = 4.04) and favorable selectivity toward creatinine.

Imprinted biopolymers as green abiotic route in immunoglobulin affinity plasmonic sensing

The relentless research in material science is pushing towards sustainable building blocks, which may be exploited in the molecularly imprinting technology, a potentially ground-breaking tool for producing affinity mimetic receptors. In this scenario, we report and characterize a novel polynorepinephrine (PNE)-based mimetic for IgG detection, biomolecules of utmost clinical interest, coupled to a label-free and real-time sensing based on Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR). A "molecular walk" around the Y-shaped IgG structure is performed to select small peptide portions to be used as templates during the epitope imprinting process. For real-time diagnosis, the mimetic receptor is integrated into SPR sensing platform, to directly target the IgG both in standard solutions and human serum specimens using the standard addition method. The designed platform is characterized in terms of binding kinetic/affinity parameters and analytical figures of merit, (selectivity, repeatability, limit of detection and quantification, namely 0.90 ± 0.02 μg mL^-1 and 3.01 ± 0.07 μg mL^-1, respectively), displaying excellent promising outcomes also when the material is subjected to thermal stress. Comprehensively, the excellent analytical performances of the MIP-based SPR sensing and the well-known versatility of such biopolymer encourage the further development of serological point-of-care testing for IgG antibodies detection.

The Use of Computational Methods for the Development of Molecularly Imprinted Polymers

Recent years have witnessed a dramatic increase in the use of theoretical and computational approaches in the study and development of molecular imprinting systems. These tools are being used to either improve understanding of the mechanisms underlying the function of molecular imprinting systems or for the design of new systems. Here, we present an overview of the literature describing the application of theoretical and computational techniques to the different stages of the molecular imprinting process (pre-polymerization mixture, polymerization process and ligand-molecularly imprinted polymer rebinding), along with an analysis of trends within and the current status of this aspect of the molecular imprinting field.

Chemical binding of molecular-imprinted polymer to biotinilated antibody: Utilization of molecular imprinting polymer as intelligent synthetic biomaterials toward recognition of carcinoma embryonic antigen in human plasma sample

In this study, a novel biosensor based on molecular imprinting polymer (MIP) methodology was fabricated toward recognition of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). For this purpose, poly (toluidine blue) (PTB) was electropolymerized on the surface of gold electrode in the absence and presence of CEA. So, the target molecules were entrapped into the imprinted specific cavities of MIP. Obtained results show that, the binding affinity of the MIP system was significantly higher than that of revealed for the nonimprinted polymer (NIP) system, MIP-based biosensor revealed linear response from (0.005 to 75 μg/L) and low limit of quantification of (0.005 μg/L) by using chronoamperometry technique, leading to CEA monitoring in real and clinical samples. Thus, a novel technique for rapid, simple, sensitive and affordable monitoring of CEA (LLOQ = 0.005 μg/L) has provided through developed biosensor. From a future perspective, moreover, this method can be considered as an applicable candidate in biomedical and clinical analysis for point-of-care usages.

Cell differentiation and motion determine the Bacillus subtilis biofilm morphological evolution under the competitive growth

The growth discrepancy of Bacillus subtilis biofilms along different directions under the competitive growth drive the formation of anisotropic biofilm morphology directly. Two biofilms growing from two inoculating positions with different distances exhibit promoting or inhibiting growth behavior. Here we develop an optical imaging technology to observe the cell differentiation and the growth dynamics when the biofilm grows. It shows that the spatiotemporal distribution of different phenotypes affects the biofilm morphological evolution. We develop a program to calculate the velocity of cell motion within the biofilm, which is based on the feature point matching approach. We find the cell differentiation ununiformity in the neighboring region and its opposite region leads to the cell velocity difference in the competitive environment, the different cell motion further influences the biofilm morphology evolution. When biofilms grow with a long inoculating distance, there is always a gap between the them; when biofilms grow with a short inoculating distance, two biofilms gradually merge into a whole. Our work establishes a relationship between microscopic cells and macroscopic biofilm morphological which enables us to study the competitive growth process of biofilms from multiple perspectives.

Hybrid aptamer-molecularly imprinted polymer (AptaMIP) nanoparticles selective for the antibiotic moxifloxacin

A polymerisable aptamer incorporated into Molecularly Imprinted Polymer nanoparticles (MIPs) creates a hybrid “best-of-both-worlds” approach which outperforms individual constituent components.

Application of Chemometrics in Biosensing: A Review

The field of biosensing is rapidly developing, and the number of novel sensor architectures and different sensing elements is growing fast. One of the most important features of all biosensors is their very high selectivity stemming from the use of bioreceptor recognition elements. The typical calibration of a biosensor requires simple univariate regression to relate a response value with an analyte concentration. Nevertheless, dealing with complex real-world sample matrices may sometimes lead to undesired interference effects from various components. This is where chemometric tools can do a good job in extracting relevant information, improving selectivity, circumventing a non-linearity in a response. This brief review aims to discuss the motivation for the application of chemometric tools in biosensing and provide some examples of such applications from the recent literature.

Computational design of probes to detect bacterial genomes by multivalent binding

Rapid methods for diagnosis of bacterial infections are urgently needed to reduce inappropriate use of antibiotics, which contributes to antimicrobial resistance. In many rapid diagnostic methods, DNA oligonucleotide probes, attached to a surface, bind to specific nucleotide sequences in the DNA of a target pathogen. Typically, each probe binds to a single target sequence; i.e., target-probe binding is monovalent. Here we show using computer simulations that the detection sensitivity and specificity can be improved by designing probes that bind multivalently to the entire length of the pathogen genomic DNA, such that a given probe binds to multiple sites along the target DNA. Our results suggest that multivalent targeting of long pieces of genomic DNA can allow highly sensitive and selective binding of the target DNA, even if competing DNA in the sample also contains binding sites for the same probe sequences. Our results are robust to mild fragmentation of the bacterial genome. Our conclusions may also be relevant for DNA detection in other fields, such as disease diagnostics more broadly, environmental management, and food safety.

Synthesis of ammonia molecularly imprinted adsorbents and ammonia adsorption separation during sludge aerobic composting

Ammonia (NH₃) is the predominant harmful odor emitted from sludge aerobic composting plants, however, this NH₃ could be recycled and used as energy or nitrogen fertilizer. Therefore, the aim of this study was to use molecular imprinting technology to prepare an adsorbent that could separate NH₃ from mixed gases. An NH₃ molecular imprinted polymer (NH₃-MIP) was prepared by precipitation polymerization and optimal synthesis was determined by testing several different ratios of reaction components. NH₃ adsorption capacity of the optimal NH₃-MIP was 1.62 times that of non-imprinted material. NH₃ separation factors increased from 154 (dimethyl sulfides) and 217 (dimethyl disulfides) for non-imprinted material, to 213 (dimethyl sulfides) and 302 (dimethyl disulfides) for the NH₃-MIP. The adsorption mechanism was identified as physical adsorption and hydrogen bonding between H-O on the -COOH in NH₃-MIP and the nitrogen in NH₃. Effective desorption at 150 °C with vacuum maintained over 95% of the NH₃ adsorption capacity.

Quantitative Prediction of Multivalent Ligand-Receptor Binding Affinities for Influenza, Cholera, and Anthrax Inhibition

Multivalency achieves strong, yet reversible binding by the simultaneous formation of multiple weak bonds. It is a key interaction principle in biology and promising for the synthesis of high-affinity inhibitors of pathogens. We present a molecular model for the binding affinity of synthetic multivalent ligands onto multivalent receptors consisting of n receptor units arranged on a regular polygon. Ligands consist of a geometrically matching rigid polygonal core to which monovalent ligand units are attached via flexible linker polymers, closely mimicking existing experimental designs. The calculated binding affinities quantitatively agree with experimental studies for cholera toxin ( n = 5) and anthrax receptor ( n = 7) and allow to predict optimal core size and optimal linker length. Maximal binding affinity is achieved for a core that matches the receptor size and for linkers that have an equilibrium end-to-end distance that is slightly longer than the geometric separation between ligand core and receptor sites. Linkers that are longer than optimal are greatly preferable compared to shorter linkers. The angular steric restriction between ligand unit and linker polymer is shown to be a key parameter. We construct an enhancement diagram that quantifies the multivalent binding affinity compared to monovalent ligands. We conclude that multivalent ligands against influenza viral hemagglutinin ( n = 3), cholera toxin ( n = 5), and anthrax receptor ( n = 7) can outperform monovalent ligands only for a monovalent ligand affinity that exceeds a core-size dependent threshold value. Thus, multivalent drug design needs to balance core size, linker length, as well as monovalent ligand unit affinity.

Mechanism Analysis of Selective Adsorption and Specific Recognition by Molecularly Imprinted Polymers of Ginsenoside Re

In this article, the molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) of ginsenoside Re (Re) were synthesized by suspension polymerization with Re as the template molecule, methacrylic acid (MAA) as the functional monomers, and ethyl glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as the crosslinker. The MIPs were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and surface porosity detector, and the selective adsorption and specific recognition of MIPs were analyzed using the theory of kinetics and thermodynamics. The experimental results showed that compared with non-imprinted polymers (NIPs), MIPs had a larger specific surface area and special pore structure and that different from the Langmuir model of NIPs, the static adsorption isotherm of MIPs for Re was in good agreement with the Freundlich model based on the two adsorption properties of MIPs. The curves of the adsorption dynamics and the lines of kinetic correlation indicate that there was a fast and selective adsorption equilibrium for Re because of the affinity of MIPs to the template rather than its analogue of ginsenoside Rg1 (Rg1). The study of thermodynamics indicate that the adsorption was controlled by enthalpy and that MIPs had higher enthalpy and entropy than NIPs, which contributed to the specific recognition of MIPs.

Design of Multivalent Inhibitors for Preventing Cellular Uptake

Cellular entry, the first crucial step of viral infection, can be inhibited by molecules adsorbed on the virus surface. However, apart from using stronger affinity, little is known about the properties of such inhibitors that could increase their effectiveness. Our simulations showed that multivalent inhibitors can be designed to be much more efficient than their monovalent counterparts. For example, for our particular simulation model, a single multivalent inhibitor spanning 5 to 6 binding sites is enough to prevent the uptake compared to the required 1/3 of all the receptor binding sites needed to be blocked by monovalent inhibitors. Interestingly, multivalent inhibitors are more efficient in inhibiting the uptake not only due to their increased affinity but mainly due to the co-localization of the inhibited receptor binding sites at the virion's surface. Furthermore, we show that Janus-like inhibitors do not induce virus aggregation. Our findings may be generalized to other uptake processes including bacteria and drug-delivery.

Molecularly imprinted polymers for sample preparation and biosensing in food analysis: Progress and perspectives

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are biomimetics which can selectively bind to analytes of interest. One of the most interesting areas where MIPs have shown the biggest potential is food analysis. MIPs have found use as sorbents in sample preparation attributed to the high selectivity and high loading capacity. MIPs have been intensively employed in classical solid-phase extraction and solid-phase microextraction. More recently, MIPs have been combined with magnetic bead extraction, which greatly simplifies sample handling procedures. Studies have consistently shown that MIPs can effectively minimize complex food matrix effects, and improve recoveries and detection limits. In addition to sample preparation, MIPs have also been viewed as promising alternatives to bio-receptors due to the inherent molecular recognition abilities and the high stability in harsh chemical and physical conditions. MIPs have been utilized as receptors in biosensing platforms such as electrochemical, optical and mass biosensors to detect various analytes in food. In this review, we will discuss the current state-of-the-art of MIP synthesis and applications in the context of food analysis. We will highlight the imprinting methods which are applicable for imprinting food templates, summarize the recent progress in using MIPs for preparing and analysing food samples, and discuss the current limitations in the commercialisation of MIPs technology. Finally, future perspectives will be given.

Creating BHb-imprinted magnetic nanoparticles with multiple binding sites

A kind of protein imprinted over magnetic Fe₃O₄@Au multifunctional nanoparticles (NPs) with multiple binding sites was synthesized and investigated.

Towards EMIC rational design: setting the molecular simulation toolbox for enantiopure molecularly imprinted catalysts

A critical appraisal of the current strategies for the synthesis of enantiopure drugs is presented, along with a systematic background for the computational design of stereoselective porous polymers. These materials aim to achieve the enantiomeric excess of any chiral drug, avoiding the racemic separation. Particular emphasis is given to link statistical mechanics methods to the description of each one of the experimental stages within the catalyst’s synthesis, setting a framework for the fundamental study of the emerging field of molecularly imprinted catalysts.Graphical abstract