Chapter 9 - Molecularly imprinted polymers in optical sensing—an outlook for future

Abstract

Optical sensing techniques for biological, industrial, and environmental analytes have grown in importance. Various natural systems, like antibodies or enzymes, have been used in the construction of these sensors, although they are frequently unstable. Molecular imprinting is now widely used to build artificial and long-lasting recognition materials that mimic natural systems and are obtained by copolymerization of appropriate functional monomers with target molecules and cross-linkers. These polymers offer excellent mechanical, thermal, and chemical stability, as well as selectivity similar to natural systems. An overview of the molecular imprinting approach is presented, with an emphasis on sensing applications and a focus on optical transduction systems. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs)-based optical sensors are used as recognition elements and have emerged as intriguing options for low molecular weight analytes, heavy metals, pesticides, antibiotic residues, and among other things. Because of their reusability, low cost of development, and high stability, it can be used to monitor a variety of real samples. Furthermore, the number of prime quality papers on MIP-based optical sensing for identification and detection has exploded. The first section of this chapter discusses about MIP-based optical sensing and its applications in diverse fields. Then, a detailed overview of recent developments in detection using emerging MIP-based optical sensors, with a focus on surface plasmon resonance (SPR), chemiluminescent (CL), fluorescent (FL), electro chemiluminescent (ECL), colorimetric (CM), and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) sensors, is discussed. This chapter also projects current research in the field.