Molecular Imprinting-Based Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Sensors.

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) receive extensive interests, owing to their structure predictability, recognition specificity and application universality as well as robustness, simplicity and inexpensiveness. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is regarded as an ideal optical detection candidate for its unique features of fingerprint recognition, non-destructive property, high sensitivity and rapidity. Accordingly, MIPs based SERS (MIP-SERS) sensors have attracted significant research interest for versatile applications especially in the field of chemo and bio analysis, showing excellent identification and detection performances. Herein, we comprehensively review the recent advances in MIP-SERS sensors construction and applications, including sensing principles and signal enhancement mechanisms, focusing on novel construction strategies and representative applications. Firstly, the basic structure of the MIP-SERS sensors is briefly outlined. Secondly, novel imprinting strategies are highlighted mainly including multi-functional monomer imprinting, dummy template imprinting, living/controlled radical polymerization and stimuli-responsive imprinting. Thirdly, typical application of MIP-SERS sensors in chemo/bio analysis is summarized from both small and macromolecular aspects. Lastly, the challenges and perspectives of the MIP-SERS sensors are proposed, orienting sensitivity improvement and application expanding.