A REVIEW OF MOLECULARLY IMPRINTED POLYMERS FOR BIOSENSOR DEVELOPMENT FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL APPLICATIONS

摘要

Rising public concern over health and environmental issues has prompted researchers to develop novel biosensors able to detect and measure biohazards and other pollutants. The evolution of sensing systems has created a niche for a new class of biosensors that use artificial receptors to detect contaminants. The development of these materials belongs to a broad class called biomimetics, which uses synthetic processes and materials to imitate nature. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are a type of biomimetic material that emulates natural receptors such as antibodies. Molecular imprinting is the technique of producing artificial recognition sites by forming a polymer around a molecule used as a template. The resulting imprinted polymers have sites with a high affinity for the molecules used to create them and can be used in several technologies, such as separation, assays and sensors, and catalysis (enzyme mimics). This review focuses on the application of MIPs in various biosensor assays, examining the polymers, templates, and types of transducers used for each application with specific focus on food and agricultural applications.