Molecularly imprinted polymers for pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

Abstract

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are prepared using a technique that allows the formation of binding sites specific to the chosen target molecule. MIPs are materials that can remain stable against changing physical and chemical environmental conditions, possess void structures specific to the target molecule, are easily synthesized, and have a long shelf life. Although initially used primarily for purification and removal processes, MIPs have recently found applications in the medical field as well. In addition to the aforementioned characteristics, their low cost, ease of use, and high accuracy have made them a preferred choice in industrial sectors. MIPs have been widely applied in disease diagnosis and treatment, drug delivery systems, tissue engineering, and industrial drug analysis. Moreover, by integrating with rapidly evolving sensor technologies in addition to traditional methods, MIPs have shortened analysis times, reduced costs, and increased specificity in all conducted analyses. This compilation aims to explain recent studies and advancements in the pharmaceutical field utilizing MIPs, including immunoassays, bioimaging, drug delivery, tissue engineering, cell recognition, and pharmaceutical analyses. Briefly, the scope of this review is to present important scientific and technological advances in molecularly imprinted polymers used for pharmaceutical and biomedical analyses. Although the vast majority of the review focuses on the years 2020–2024, it also addresses current issues and proposed solutions for the use of highly stable molecularly imprinted polymers in pharmaceutical and biomedical analyses since 2010.