MIP Sensors on the Way to Real-World Applications - Designing Receptors for the Next Generation of Biosensors - page 180

SPF) of particular analytes: MIP[4]SPF products are available that target

amphetamines (class specific), -agonist drugs (class specific), -blocker drugs

b b

(class -blockers), chloramphenicol,

clenbuterol, fluoroquinolones (class specific), nitroimidazoles (class specific),
NNAL (carcinogenic tobacco-specific nitrosamine), nonsteroidal anti-
inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), ribofla-
vin (Vitamin B 2 ), tobacco-specific nitrosamines (NNN, NNK, NAB, and NAT), and
triazine herbicides. Other companies dealing with commercial scale applications of
MIPs are Oxonon ( http://www.oxonon.net ) working on MIP synthesis and charac-
terization, Semorex ( http://www.semorex.com ) developing sensors for detection
and diagnostics, Imego ( http://www.imego.com ) dealing with fabrication of MIP-
based sensors for environmental pollutant, drugs and warfare detection. Generally,
one can see that currently most commercially available matrices are targeting
extraction rather than sensing. One reason for this may be the fact that batch-to-
batch reproducibility of the materials is still an issue that has to be overcome to
avoid the requirement for each sensor to be calibrated individually.

specific), -receptor ( -agonists +

b b b

6 Summary and Outlook

Sensor technology based on MIPs has achieved substantial interest during the last
few decades triggering a wide range of applications. However, to date only a few of
them have been applied to “real-life” matrices, especially in the fields of detecting
microorganisms or volatile organic compounds including complex environments.
Future challenges in this field are still the achievement of the sensitivity, selectivity,
and reproducibility of material mandatory for industrial requirements. Furthermore,
systems will have to undergo the transition from laboratory bench to mass
manufacturing of thin films and (preferably) nanoparticles in order to meet the
current key challenge for commercialization.

References

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to applications. Wiley-VCH, Weinheim
2. Alexander C, Andersson HS, Andersson LI et al (2006) Molecular imprinting science and
technology: a survey of the literature for the years up to and including 2003. J Mol Recognit
19:106-180
3. Yan M, Ramstr om O (2005) Molecularly imprinted material-science and technology. Marcel

Dekker, New York
4. Wulff G, Sarhan A (1972) Use of polymers with enzyme-analogous structures for the resolu-
tion of racemates. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 11:341
5. Wulff G, Sarhan A, Zabrocki K et al (1973) Enzyme-analogue built polymers and their use for
the resolution of racemates. Tetrahedron Lett 14:4329-4332

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