Molecularly Imprinted Polymers and Nanocomposites—Essentials Features and Applied Versatilities

This manuscript presents a systematic overview of molecularly imprinted polymer-derived nanocomposites, discussing fundamentals, design categorization, and technological worth, according to the reported literature so far. In this concern, nanocomposites of molecularly imprinted polymers have been synthesized with carbonaceous nanoparticles (graphene, carbon nanotube, fullerene) and inorganic nanoparticles (metal/metal oxide, metal organic frameworks). Principal synthesis methods applied for molecularly imprinted polymers and consequential nanocomposites include efficient polymerization tactics, like free radical (bulk/emulsion), electropolymerization, sol-gel, precipitation, and imprinting approaches (surface imprinting or nanoimprinting). Ensuing macromolecular assemblies or nanocomposite hybrid assemblies depicted valuable characteristics, counting low price, high surface area, surface functionalities, microstructural variations, structural stability, facile synthesis, desirable porosity, and sensitivity toward other molecules depending upon their structural precision and choice of processing technique. Subsequently, worth mentioning combinations of molecularly imprinted polymers and nanocarbon/inorganic nanoparticles showed scientific potential for water remediation (adsorbent materials), gas/electrochemical sensors, drug delivery, and biosensing fields. Although plenty of scientific reports revealed design, processing, and practical aspects of molecularly imprinted polymers; nonetheless, we note, field of molecularly imprinted polymer-derived nanocomposites needs much future scientific attention for precise macromolecular designs, perfect polymer-nanoparticle assemblies, and well-defined processing techniques/parameters for commercial-scale utilizations.