Molecularly imprinted materials--receptors more durable than nature can provide.

The chapter describes the concept of molecular imprinting. This technology allows the fabrication of artificial polymeric receptors applicable in many areas of biotechnology. Polymers imprinted with selected template molecules can be used as specific recognition elements in sensors or as selective stationary phases in affinity chromatography or in capillary electrochromatography. However, also in solid phase extraction or immunoassays these polymers (MIP) are able to compete with traditional materials such as biological antibodies. Furthermore, polymers molecularly imprinted with so-called transition state analogue templates can be applied as catalysts. In other words, these kind of polymers may be used as artificial antibodies (plastibodies) or biomimicking enzymes (plastizymes). Compared to their biological counterparts, MIP offer different advantages such as simplicity in manufacturing and durability. Thus, the author expects MIP to have a major impact on the whole area of biotechnology.