Recent progress in molecularly imprinted media by new preparation concepts and methodological approaches for selective separation of targeting compounds

• The use of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIP) for liquid-phase separations is summarized.
• Direct selective separations with MIP-based columns and solid-phase extraction are studied.
• Magnetic nanoparticles are modified with MIP.
• Pseudo (or dummy) templates and surface modifications for MIP are discussed.

For highly sensitive determination of trace-level compounds in environmental, biological, and food samples, a selective separation and concentration are usually required with a removal of contaminants before quantitative detection by spectroscopic detection techniques, such as mass spectrometry. In the last few decades, molecularly imprinted adsorbents have widely contributed to the separation and concentration in liquid-phase separations. In this study, the latest preparation procedures, such as the use of surface modifications, inorganic substrates, and monolithic materials, in the molecular imprinting techniques are summarized. Recent achievements of practical quantitative determination in a variety of fields by new methodological protocols with molecular imprinting are also reported.