Molecularly imprinted polymers: new tailor-made materials for selective solid-phase extraction

Solid-phase extraction (SPE) materials are a promising and innovative appli cation of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs). These polymers allow certa in analytes to be selectively extracted from complex matrices without matri x interference. The applications described in this article include the mole cularly imprinted SPE (MISPE) of several kinds of analytes of biological, p harmaceutical and environmental interest. To ensure selectivity emphasis is placed on synthetic considerations and the various steps in the extraction process. Finally, we also report on recent advances in this technique. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.