NONCOVALENT MOLECULAR IMPRINTING - ANTIBODY-LIKE MOLECULAR RECOGNITION IN POLYMERIC NETWORK MATERIALS

Molecular imprinting techniques allow the preparation of polymeric rec eptors which bind small molecules with affinities and selectivities of the same order as those observed in the binding of antigens by antibo dies. The molecular imprinting technology has now reached a stage wher e the commercial use of imprinted materials is being assessed, notably for separations requiring strong and selective binding of small molec ules. This development is driven by the potential advantages of polyme ric receptors over biological in terms of stability, capacity, cost an d ease of preparation. In this short review the state of the art of no ncovalent imprinting is summarised indicating a few areas in analytica l chemistry where the technique may have future impact.