Stimuli-responsive molecularly imprinted polymers: versatile functional materials

Abstract

Stimuli-responsive molecularly imprinted polymers (SR-MIPs) have received widespread attention with the rapid development of stimuli responsive polymers and molecularly imprinted polymers, and significant progress has been achieved in recent years in the field of SR-MIPs. To date, magnetic responsive MIPs, temperature responsive MIPs, pH responsive MIPs, photo-responsive MIPs, and dual or multi stimuli responsive MIPs have been prepared, and display broad application perspectives in many fields such as drug delivery, biotechnology, separation sciences, and chemo/biosensors. In the present feature article, those SR-MIPs are summarized comprehensively, and particular attention is paid to the mechanism of SR-MIPs, their preparation methods, and the application aspects. Finally, some significant attempts to further develop SR-MIPs are also proposed.