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Publisher: American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers
Conference information: Proceedings, 2003 ASAE Annual Meeting

Abstract: The limitations of natural receptor molecules, such as antibodies, have generated the need to investigate potential synthetic replacements. Antibodies are limited by their reliance upon an antigen for production, the extraction process required to obtain them, and the need for a controlled environment. 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). Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) offer a real alternative to antibodies due to the highly specific recognition sites they provide and the inherent rigid, insoluble structure of the polymer. The synthetic assembly of the polymer around a template allows for an almost unlimited number of analytes to be imprinted with the ability to imprint more than one molecule into the same polymer. This review will focus 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 agriculture.