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Chemosensors
Special Issues
Molecularly Imprinted Polymer (MIP) Sensors
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Molecularly Imprinted Polymer (MIP) Sensors

A special issue of Chemosensors (ISSN 2227-9040). This special issue belongs to the section "Materials for Chemical Sensing".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 December 2025) | Viewed by 6065

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Xuanhao Lin

E-Mail Website1 Website2 Website3 Website4
Guest Editor
Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117543, Singapore
Interests: molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs); sensors; sensor automation; quartz crystal microbalance; catalysis; wastewater and solid waste treatment; environmental chemistry; new energy sources; low-carbon technologies
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are synthetic materials engineered to have highly specific recognition sites for a target molecule (template). Some MIPs are often referred to as "synthetic antibodies" due to their selectivity and ability to recognize specific molecules, similar to natural antibodies or enzymes. Tailored binding sites mimic the size, shape, and functional groups of the target molecule. Hence, MIPs can recognize a wide range of targets, including small organic molecules, peptides, proteins, and ions. They can be regenerated and reused without significant loss of performance. MIPs also exhibit high thermal, chemical, and mechanical stability compared to natural recognition systems. MIPs have found many applications in sensors, separation, purification, environmental monitoring, drug delivery, catalysis, etc. However, MIP technology also faces certain challenges: (1) Residual template molecules may contaminate the binding sites. (2) Binding of non-target molecules can reduce selectivity. (3) Variability in the structure of binding sites can affect performance. Over the past 5 years, there have been 4,393 publications on the topic of MIP sensors. In this Special Issue, we welcome articles on the synthesis, characterization, properties, mechanisms, and applications of MIP sensors. We look forward to your submissions.

Dr. Xuanhao Lin
Guest Editor

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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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. Chemosensors is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2000 CHF (Swiss Francs). 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

  • molecularly imprinted polymers
  • polymer nanoparticles
  • electrochemical sensors

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 1316 KB  
Article
Molecularly Imprinted Electrochemical Sensor Electrodes Based on Poly-Pyrrole for Sensitive Detection of Morphine in Wastewater
by Pranaya Charkravarthula and Amos Mugweru
Chemosensors 2025, 13(8), 284; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors13080284 - 4 Aug 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2606
Abstract
Morphine is an opioid extracted from the poppy plant and highly effective for moderate to severe pain management. Development of techniques to measure the concentration of this highly addictive drug in various matrices is very important. This work was aimed at the development [...] Read more.
Morphine is an opioid extracted from the poppy plant and highly effective for moderate to severe pain management. Development of techniques to measure the concentration of this highly addictive drug in various matrices is very important. This work was aimed at the development of a sensitive electrochemical method for detection of morphine in wastewater. Molecularly imprinted (MIP) electrodes were made by the electro-polymerization process using pyrrole as a monomer. Electro-polymerization was performed on glassy carbon electrodes in the presence of morphine before the extraction of the entrapped morphine molecules. Various techniques were employed to monitor the polymerization and response of the fabricated electrodes toward morphine. These techniques included Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), cyclic voltammetry (CV), square wave voltammetry (SWV), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The morphine concentration was determined using SWV and CV by measuring the change in the redox peak current of [Fe(CN)6]−3/−4. These MIP electrode sensors were used to analyze morphine concentrations between 0 and 80.0 nM solution. The SWV showed a wider linear response region than CV. The detection limit using SWV was found to be 1.9 nM, while using CV, the detection limit was 2.75 nM. This MIP electrode sensor exhibited specificity when other closely related molecules were included and hence has potential as a cheap alternative technique for analysis of morphine. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecularly Imprinted Polymer (MIP) Sensors)
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Review

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37 pages, 1571 KB  
Review
Molecularly Imprinted Polymer-Based Sensors in Food Contaminants Analysis: Advances, Applications, and Future Trends
by Leina El Hosry and Elias Bou-Maroun
Chemosensors 2025, 13(12), 420; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors13120420 - 5 Dec 2025
Viewed by 931
Abstract
Molecularly Imprinted Polymer (MIP)-based sensors have gained increasing attention in the field of food safety analysis due to their unique ability to selectively recognize and quantify chemical contaminants and allergens with interesting sensitivity. These synthetic receptors, often referred to as “plastic antibodies,” offer [...] Read more.
Molecularly Imprinted Polymer (MIP)-based sensors have gained increasing attention in the field of food safety analysis due to their unique ability to selectively recognize and quantify chemical contaminants and allergens with interesting sensitivity. These synthetic receptors, often referred to as “plastic antibodies,” offer several advantages over conventional analytical methods, including high stability, cost-effectiveness, reusability, and compatibility with miniaturized sensor platforms. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in the design, fabrication, and application of MIP-based sensors for the detection of a broad range of food contaminants, including pesticides, antibiotics, mycotoxins, heavy metals, acrylamide, heterocyclic amines, allergens, viruses, and bacteria. Various transduction mechanisms—electrochemical, optical, thermal, and mass-sensitive—are discussed in relation to their integration with MIP recognition elements. The review also highlights the advantages and limitations of MIPs in comparison with traditional techniques such as ELISA and HPLC. Finally, we explore current challenges and emerging trends, including nanomaterial integration, multiplexed detection, and smartphone-based platforms, which are expected to drive future developments toward real-time, point-of-need, and regulatory-compliant food safety monitoring tools. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecularly Imprinted Polymer (MIP) Sensors)
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68 pages, 4761 KB  
Review
Advances in Molecularly Imprinted Electrochemical Platforms for Food Quality Control: Targeting Antioxidants, Sweeteners, Colorants, Contaminants and Toxicants
by Lu Zhang, Shichao Zhao, Jiangwei Zhu and Li Fu
Chemosensors 2025, 13(11), 398; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors13110398 - 13 Nov 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2135
Abstract
Ensuring food safety and quality has become increasingly critical due to the complexities introduced by globalization, industrialization, and extended supply chains. Traditional analytical methods for food quality control, such as chromatography and mass spectrometry, while accurate, face limitations including high costs, lengthy analysis [...] Read more.
Ensuring food safety and quality has become increasingly critical due to the complexities introduced by globalization, industrialization, and extended supply chains. Traditional analytical methods for food quality control, such as chromatography and mass spectrometry, while accurate, face limitations including high costs, lengthy analysis times, and limited suitability for on-site rapid monitoring. Electrochemical sensors integrated with molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) have emerged as promising alternatives, combining high selectivity and sensitivity with portability and affordability. MIPs, often termed ‘plastic antibodies,’ are synthetic receptors capable of selective molecular recognition, tailored specifically for target analytes. This review comprehensively discusses recent advancements in MIP-based electrochemical sensing platforms, highlighting their applications in detecting various food quality markers. It particularly emphasizes the detection of antioxidants—both natural (e.g., vitamins, phenolics) and synthetic (e.g., BHA, TBHQ), artificial sweeteners (e.g., aspartame, acesulfame-K), colorants (e.g., azo dyes, anthocyanins), traditional contaminants (e.g., pesticides, heavy metals), and toxicants such as mycotoxins (e.g., aflatoxins, ochratoxins). The synthesis methods, including bulk, precipitation, surface imprinting, sol–gel polymerization, and electropolymerization (EP), are critically evaluated for their effectiveness in creating highly selective binding sites. Furthermore, the integration of advanced nanomaterials, such as graphene, carbon nanotubes, and metallic nanoparticles, into these platforms to enhance sensitivity, selectivity, and stability is examined. Practical challenges, including sensor reusability, regeneration strategies, and adaptability to complex food matrices, are addressed. Finally, the review provides an outlook on future developments and practical considerations necessary to transition these innovative MIP electrochemical sensors from laboratory research to widespread adoption in industry and regulatory settings, ultimately ensuring comprehensive food safety and consumer protection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecularly Imprinted Polymer (MIP) Sensors)
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