ABSTRACT
In the last decade, molecular imprinting has evolved into an elegant technique for the generation of synthetic media with a predetermined selectivity. Selectivity is a major parameter in separation science. Optimization of a chromatographic separation is often based on the enhancement of the selectivity of the separation system for a given analyte. This optimization procedure can aim at: 1) the mobile-phase composition, 2) the stationary-phase choice, and 3) the simultaneous optimization of both mobile and stationary phases. The first approach was, for years (and still remains, but to a lesser extent), the subject of extensive research and development. The last few years, however, have seen tremendous increase in the drive toward the optimization of the selectivity of the chromatographic stationary phase. Affinity chromatography, utilizing immobilized antibodies, receptors, or other proteinaceous recognition elements, is an important development in contemporary separation science.
