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Smart Molecularly Imprinted Polymers: Recent Developments and Applications
Author(s) -
Ge Yi,
Butler Benjamin,
Mirza Farhan,
HabibUllah Sabeeh,
Fei Dan
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
macromolecular rapid communications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.348
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1521-3927
pISSN - 1022-1336
DOI - 10.1002/marc.201300069
Subject(s) - expansive , molecularly imprinted polymer , molecular imprinting , nanotechnology , polymer , imprinting (psychology) , smart polymer , computer science , materials science , chemistry , organic chemistry , biochemistry , compressive strength , composite material , selectivity , gene , catalysis
Abstract The use of the molecular imprinting technique to produce polymers with high specificity for a given “molecular template” has undergone a rapid and expansive evolution since the inception of the idea over half a century ago. It was only a matter of time before the seemingly inevitable “marriage” of this concept with another modern research obsession, the generation of “smart” polymers, capable of reacting quickly, accurately and reproducibly to changes in their environment. Many advances have since been made, concerning the quality and diversity of these systems and polymers responsive to temperature, pH and a host of other environmental cues now exist. This article provides a succinct overview of the process and outcomes of “smart” molecular imprinting, followed by a detailed assessment of recent developments and applications in such field.