ABSTRACT
This chapter is intended to give some insight on the aspects that
are related in utilizing molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) in
optical sensor applications. This includes the synthetic principles,
integration techniques, some examples of applications, and also
some theoretical understanding on the science behind the working
mechanism in using MIPs for optical sensing. The discussions focus
mainly on using low power optical sources ranging in the ultra-violet
and visible wavelengths and the integration into simple and cost-
‡ơ‡…–‹˜‡‘’–‹…ƒŽ…‘’‘‡–•ƒ†‹•–”—‡–ƒ–‹‘•Ǥ
‘Ž‡…—Žƒ” ‹’”‹–‹‰ –‡…Š‘Ž‘‰› ‘ơ‡”• ƒ ‰”‡ƒ– ‘’’‘”–—‹–› –‘ †‡•‹‰ ’‘Ž›‡”‹… ƒ–‡”‹ƒŽ• ™‹–Š Š‹‰Š •’‡…‹ϐ‹…‹–› ”‡…‘‰‹–‹‘ property to a target molecule, commonly known as the molecularly
imprinted polymers (MIPs). The unique recognition “memory” of
MIPs is introduced during the synthetic process that results from
the intermolecular interaction of chemical functional groups within
a liquid mixture. Practically, the synthesis is performed by adding
ƒ •—ˆϐ‹…‹‡– ƒ‘—– ‘ˆ –ƒ”‰‡– ‘Ž‡…—Ž‡ǡ ‘” …‘‘Ž› ‘™ ƒ• template molecules into a mixture containing polymerizable
ingredients such monomers and cross-linkers. Interaction between
the ingredients will lead toward the establishment of a highly ordered
arrangement at microscopic level. The interaction of template with
the monomers and/or cross-linkers can be of covalent or non-
covalent types, depending on whether new bonds are formed or
just attractive forces between polar molecules. Once the ingredients
are polymerized, the whole arrangement and orientation of the
mixture will be frozen, forming a highly cross-linked polymeric
matrix. Extraction of the initially added template molecule out from
–Š‡ƒ–”‹š™‹ŽŽŽ‡ƒ˜‡ƒ‡’–›…ƒ˜‹–›Šƒ˜‹‰•’‡…‹ϐ‹…•Šƒ’‡ǡ•‹œ‡ƒ† chemical conjugate functionality of the template due to the molding
‡ơ‡…–ǤŠ‡”‡ˆ‘”‡ǡ–Š‡…ƒ˜‹–›‹•—•—ƒŽŽ›‘ˆŠ‹‰Š‡”‹–‡”ƒ…–‹‘ƒˆϐ‹‹–›–‘ the template compared to other structurally and chemically similar
compounds, giving the MIPs their unique recognition ability.
