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Molecular imprinting strategies could successfully be applied to bioanalytes of different dimensions, ranging from proteins, as insulin, to picornaviruses, Human-Rhino- Virus (HRV) or Foot-Mouth-Disease-Virus (FMDV) to cells, e.g. yeast-cells or even highly flexible erythrocytes. Blood cell surface patterning of pre-polymers could be achieved via coatings with selective recognition properties. Polymer layers coupled with mass-sensitive quartz crystal micro balances (QCMs) lead to a selective sensor system concerning blood group typing. Thus, blood groups A1, A2 and B can be distinguished by the imprinted layers acting as synthetic antibodies. Further development of synthetic receptor sites were realized by generating plastic replica of immunoglobulin-Y (IgY), resulting in an antibody-like structure integrated on the polymer surface. For this purpose nano-particles from polymers were imprinted with natural immunoglobulin. After removing the template these patterned particles were pressed in a prepolymer resulting in a synthetic receptor having antibody properties. The sensitivity to the allergen sesame protein was even higher than to the natural analogue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the procedural synthesis that contain specific identification of small molecules called the molecular imprinted polymers (MIP). MIP structures are determined by the intermolecular forces between the template molecule which pre-organizes functional, the functional monomers and the polymer matrix. Pre-organization of the functional monomers includes covalent, electrostatic and hydrogen bonding interactions.