Molecularly Imprinted Polymer-Based Luminescent Chemosensors

Abstract

Molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP)-based luminescent chemosensors combine the advantages of the highly specific molecular recognition of the imprinting sites and the high sensitivity with the luminescence detection. These advantages have drawn great attention during the past two decades. Luminescent molecularly imprinted polymers (luminescent MIPs) towards different targeted analytes are constructed with different strategies, such as the incorporation of luminescent functional monomers, physical entrapment, covalent attachment of luminescent signaling elements on the MIPs, and surface-imprinting polymerization on the luminescent nanomaterials. In this review, we will discuss the design strategies and sensing approaches of luminescent MIP-based chemosensors, as well as their selected applications in biosensing, bioimaging, food safety, and clinical diagnosis. The limitations and prospects for the future development of MIP-based luminescent chemosensors will also be discussed.

Keywords: chemosensor; luminescent; molecularly imprinted polymer; organic dye; quantum dots; transition metal complex.

Figure 1

Schematic illustration of potential applications of luminescent MIPs.

Figure 2

Schematic representation of the molecular imprinting polymerization process. Adapted with permission [26]. Copyright 2006, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Figure 3

Schematic illustration of the synthesis of (a) fluorescent MIP for N-carbobenzyloxy-l-phenylalanine detection. Adapted with permission [56]. Copyright 2013, Wiley-VCH. (b) Hydrophilic fluorescent tetracycline-imprinted MIP nanoparticles for drug sensing. Adapted with permission [59]. Copyright 2015, Elsevier. (c) Fluorescent MIP for naproxen sensing. Adapted with permission [60]. Copyright 2021, Royal Society of Chemistry.

Figure 4

Schematic illustration of the preparation of (a) luminescent protein imprinted polymer for glycoprotein detection. Adapted with permission [66]. Copyright 2017, Elsevier. (b) Fluorescent sensing platform for exosome detection. Adapted with permission [67]. Copyright 2019, Wiley-VCH.

Figure 5

Schematic illustration of (a) preparation and sensing mechanism of fluorescence molecularly imprinted membrane for salicylic acid detection. Adapted with permission [70]. Copyright 2019, Elsevier. (b) Fabrication of enrofloxacin-imprinted nanofilament entrapped with Eu(III) ions for enrofloxacin detection. Adapted with permission [71]. Copyright 2013, Wiley-VCH.

Figure 6

Schematic illustration of (a) preparation of fluorescent core-shell MIP sensor for λ-cyhalothrin. Adapted with permission [72]. Copyright 2015, American Chemical Society. (b) Fabrication of perovskite QDs in the mesopores of imprinted silica polymer for 2,2-dichlorovinyl dimethyl phosphate detection. Adapted with permission [75]. Copyright 2020, Elsevier.

Figure 7

(a) Preparation of the silica-MIP modified with Eu(III) complexes and the emission quenching spectra of the MIP and non-imprinted polymer (NIP) for λ-cyhalothrin sensing. Adapted with permission [83]. Copyright 2013, American Chemical Society. (b) Fabrication of luminescent core-shell silica nanoparticle-MIP functionalized with Ru(II) complexes and the emission spectral changes in the tenuazonic acid sensing study. Adapted with permission [79]. Copyright 2021, Elsevier.

Figure 8

(a) Preparation of fluorescent MIP conjugated with ATTO 647N fluorescent dye for porcine serum albumin quantification. Adapted with permission [89]. Copyright 2021, Elsevier. (b) Structures of the commonly used organic fluorophores in the development of fluorescent MIPs.

Figure 9

Schematic illustration for (a) the preparation of fluorescent MIP-coated CdTe QDs for 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid detection. Adapted with permission [112]. Copyright 2020, American Chemical Society. (b) Preparation and sensing principle of the graphene QDs-immobilized MIP nanocomposite for the detection of tributyltin. Adapted with permission [117]. Copyright 2019, American Chemical Society.

Figure 10

Schematic illustration of molecularly imprinted nanoparticles for dual emission detection of dopamine and the visual readout test strip. Adapted with permission [133]. Copyright 2019, Wiley-VCH.

Figure 11

Schematic illustration for the preparation of luminescent MIP@DOX and its targeted chemo-photodynamic synergistic cancer therapy. Adapted with permission [140]. Copyright 2020, American Chemical Society.

Figure 12

Schematic illustration of (a) the luminescent MIP sensor PTMA-Ir for selective detection of TMA released in spoiled seafood. (b) Preparation and fluorescence spectral changes of MIP grafted on carbon QDs for selective detection of trace tetracycline in milk. Adapted with permission. [142] Copyright 2016, Elsevier.

Figure 13

Illustration of the signal readout process of fluorescent conjugated polythiophene-based MIP sensors for α-fetoprotein detection. Adapted with permission [145]. Copyright 2020, Elsevier.