Molecular imprinted polymers (MIPs) are molecular recognition elements that can be tailored towards a wide variety of target molecules. These human-made materials are relatively easy to prepare and have found a broad application as substitutes of antibodies or enzymes. They have been successfully applied to the development of chromatographic or solid phase extraction methods and have attracted a great interest for the development of electrochemical, piezoelectrical or optical sensors. In parallel with the classification of biosensors, MIP-based devices can work according to two different detection schemes: affinity sensors ("plastic-bodies") and catalytic sensors ("plastic-enzymes"). These devices can be in- terrogated using different optical techniques, such as fluorescence, light absorption (UV-Vis, Infrared) spectroscopy, chemiluminescence, surface plasmon resonance, or Raman scattering. This paper reviews the main developments and ap- plications of MIPs in the area of optical sensors with special emphasis on their analytical applications.
[1]
Frances S. Ligler,et al.
Optical biosensors : present and future
,
2002
.
[2]
Börje Sellergren,et al.
Molecularly imprinted polymers : man-made mimics of antibodies and their applications in analytical chemistry
,
2001
.
[3]
Olof Ramström,et al.
Molecularly Imprinted Materials : Science and Technology
,
2004
.
[4]
K. Schanze,et al.
Optical sensors and switches
,
2001
.
[5]
Sergey A. Piletsky,et al.
Molecular Imprinting of Polymers
,
2006
.
[6]
R. Engelbrecht,et al.
DIGEST of TECHNICAL PAPERS
,
1959
.