Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Technology: A Powerful, Generic, Facile and Cost Effective Alternative for Enantio-recognition and Separation: A Glance at Advances and Applications

Abstract

The emerging Molecularly Imprinted Polymer (MIP) technology has yielded proof of concept, harnessing nature ' s fundamentals to yield recognition receptor mimics from the miniaturized basics, borrowing on the ground rules, but conveniently avoiding the complexity, fragility, instability, costs and ethics of animal based bio-affinity matrices. Thus, the impact of bio-sciences on the future of technology is not via direct use of the molecules, but rather the lessons learned. Molecular imprinting is a powerful specialty representing the generic, cost effective and facile alternative for preparation of synthetic custom-tailored receptors. It achieves this via creation of specific selective recognition sites for a pre-determined analyte (called template) in a polymeric matrix. The template directs the molecular positioning and orientation of the material ' s functional monomers. Cross linking ensures polymer rigidity that "freezes" the 3-D molecular architecture of the binding cavity when the template is subsequently extracted. The immense potential of the emerging MIP technology is typified by enantio-separation. Beyond separation science, the MIP sorbents ' potential continues to impact and revolutionize sensor development, catalysis, toxin sequestration and in environmental metal-ion de-contamination problems.