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Review
. 2024 Sep 24;16(19):2699.
doi: 10.3390/polym16192699.

Hazardous Materials from Threats to Safety: Molecularly Imprinted Polymers as Versatile Safeguarding Platforms

Ana-Mihaela Gavrila  1 , Aurel Diacon  2 , Tanta-Verona Iordache  1 , Traian Rotariu  2 , Mariana Ionita  3 , Gabriela Toader  2
Affiliations
Review

Hazardous Materials from Threats to Safety: Molecularly Imprinted Polymers as Versatile Safeguarding Platforms

Ana-Mihaela Gavrila et al. Polymers (Basel). .

Abstract

Hazards associated with highly dangerous pollutants/contaminants in water, air, and land resources, as well as food, are serious threats to public health and the environment. Thus, it is imperative to detect or decontaminate, as risk-control strategies, the possible harmful substances sensitively and efficiently. In this context, due to their capacity to be specifically designed for various types of hazardous compounds, the synthesis and use of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) have become widespread. By molecular imprinting, affinity sites with complementary shape, size, and functionality can be created for any template molecule. MIPs' unique functions in response to external factors have attracted researchers to develop a broad range of MIP-based sensors with increased sensitivity, specificity, and selectivity of the recognition element toward target hazardous compounds. Therefore, this paper comprehensively reviews the very recent progress of MIPs and smart polymer applications for sensing or decontamination of hazardous compounds (e.g., drugs, explosives, and biological or chemical agents) in various fields from 2020 to 2024, providing researchers with a rapid tool for investigating the latest research status.

Keywords: CWA agents; decontamination; explosives; hazardous compounds; illicit drugs; imprinting techniques; molecularly imprinted polymers; multi-stimuli responsive; sensing.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Schematic representation of the synthesis of an MIP by covalent, semi-covalent, and non-covalent bonds (adapted from [13]).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Classification of the main CWAs based on their chemical structure.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Classification of explosives based on their chemical structure.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Classification of explosives based on their chemical structure.
Figure 4
Figure 4
MIP structure and interaction for picric acid detection, adapted from Huynh et al. [110].
Figure 5
Figure 5
Classification chart of the main illicit drugs, depending upon the drug’s major effects and origin, as well the existent Drug Scheduling on the most hazardous (Schedule I and II, according to US Drug Enforcement Administration).
Figure 6
Figure 6
MIP-based cell recognition strategies.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Graphic illustration of MIP preparation, Ps. aeruginosa recognition, and photothermal inactivation—adapted from [254].
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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