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Current Developments and Future Trends in Molecular Imprinting Science and Technology

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Biophysics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2023) | Viewed by 8929

Special Issue Editors

Department of Chemistry, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
Interests: molecular imprinting; biomimetic polymer

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

While the origins of molecular imprinting science and technology can be traced back to the early 1930s, we have witnessed an explosion of interest in the field during the past thirty years, accompanied by a rapid growth in new and exciting applications of these unique materials. A step change in the pace of research in the field has resulted from the demonstration that molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) can possess recognition characteristics at least comparable to antibodies, with greater stability and versatility, and with the potential to be used in a range of application areas requiring selective molecular recognition properties. Subsequent developments in the science have significantly improved our understanding of the molecular imprinting process and how MIPs function. These developments have been accompanied by the introduction of new methods for the study and design of MIPs, novel polymer compositions and formats, and the deployment of MIPs in an increasing number of application areas, ranging from separations and sensing to therapeutics and catalysis. We see the current breadth of developments in science as motivation to summarize the current state of this multidisciplinary field and to present informed insights concerning current and future trends.

We invite you to contribute original papers and reviews for a Special Issue of the International Journal of Molecular Sciences devoted to “Current Developments and Future Trends in Molecular Imprinting Science and Technology” which is to be published in 2022.

Prof. Dr. Ian A. Nicholls
Dr. Michael J. Whitcombe
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • biomimetic polymer
  • MIP
  • molecular imprinting
  • molecularly imprinted polymer
  • templated polymer

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 28387 KiB  
Article
Oxytocin-Selective Nanogel Antibody Mimics
by Rashmi Mahajan, Subramanian Suriyanarayanan, Gustaf D. Olsson, Jesper G. Wiklander, Teodor Aastrup, Börje Sellergren and Ian A. Nicholls
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(5), 2534; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23052534 - 25 Feb 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2782
Abstract
Oxytocin imprinted polymer nanoparticles were synthesized by glass bead supported solid phase synthesis, with NMR and molecular dynamics studies used to investigate monomer–template interactions. The nanoparticles were characterized by dynamic light scattering, scanning- and transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Investigation of [...] Read more.
Oxytocin imprinted polymer nanoparticles were synthesized by glass bead supported solid phase synthesis, with NMR and molecular dynamics studies used to investigate monomer–template interactions. The nanoparticles were characterized by dynamic light scattering, scanning- and transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Investigation of nanoparticle-template recognition using quartz crystal microbalance-based studies revealed sub-nanomolar affinity, kd ≈ 0.3 ± 0.02 nM (standard error of the mean), comparable to that of commercial polyclonal antibodies, kd ≈ 0.02–0.2 nM. Full article
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Review

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23 pages, 1955 KiB  
Review
Rational In Silico Design of Molecularly Imprinted Polymers: Current Challenges and Future Potential
by Soumya Rajpal, Prashant Mishra and Boris Mizaikoff
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(7), 6785; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24076785 - 05 Apr 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2128
Abstract
The rational design of molecularly imprinted polymers has evolved along with state-of-the-art experimental imprinting strategies taking advantage of sophisticated computational tools. In silico methods enable the screening and simulation of innovative polymerization components and conditions superseding conventional formulations. The combined use of quantum [...] Read more.
The rational design of molecularly imprinted polymers has evolved along with state-of-the-art experimental imprinting strategies taking advantage of sophisticated computational tools. In silico methods enable the screening and simulation of innovative polymerization components and conditions superseding conventional formulations. The combined use of quantum mechanics, molecular mechanics, and molecular dynamics strategies allows for macromolecular modelling to study the systematic translation from the pre- to the post-polymerization stage. However, predictive design and high-performance computing to advance MIP development are neither fully explored nor practiced comprehensively on a routine basis to date. In this review, we focus on different steps along the molecular imprinting process and discuss appropriate computational methods that may assist in optimizing the associated experimental strategies. We discuss the potential, challenges, and limitations of computational approaches including ML/AI and present perspectives that may guide next-generation rational MIP design for accelerating the discovery of innovative molecularly templated materials. Full article
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26 pages, 6403 KiB  
Review
Template Imprinting Versus Porogen Imprinting of Small Molecules: A Review of Molecularly Imprinted Polymers in Gas Sensing
by Todd Cowen and Michael Cheffena
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(17), 9642; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23179642 - 25 Aug 2022
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2189
Abstract
The selective sensing of gaseous target molecules is a challenge to analytical chemistry. Selectivity may be achieved in liquids by several different methods, but many of these are not suitable for gas-phase analysis. In this review, we will focus on molecular imprinting and [...] Read more.
The selective sensing of gaseous target molecules is a challenge to analytical chemistry. Selectivity may be achieved in liquids by several different methods, but many of these are not suitable for gas-phase analysis. In this review, we will focus on molecular imprinting and its application in selective binding of volatile organic compounds and atmospheric pollutants in the gas phase. The vast majority of indexed publications describing molecularly imprinted polymers for gas sensors and vapour monitors have been analysed and categorised. Specific attention was then given to sensitivity, selectivity, and the challenges of imprinting these small volatile compounds. A distinction was made between porogen (solvent) imprinting and template imprinting for the discussion of different synthetic techniques, and the suitability of each to different applications. We conclude that porogen imprinting, synthesis in an excess of template, has great potential in gas capture technology and possibly in tandem with more typical template imprinting, but that the latter generally remains preferable for selective and sensitive detection of gaseous molecules. More generally, it is concluded that gas-phase applications of MIPs are an established science, capable of great selectivity and parts-per-trillion sensitivity. Improvements in the fields are likely to emerge by deviating from standards developed for MIP in liquids, but original methodologies generating exceptional results are already present in the literature. Full article
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