Application of molecularly imprinted polymers to solid-phase extraction of compounds from environmental and biological samples

In this paper, we review the current state of the art in the use of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) as selective materials in molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction (MISPE). The application of these synthetic polymers as sorbents allows not only pre-concentration and cleaning of the sample but also selective extraction of the target analyte, which is important, particularly when the sample is complex and impurities can interfere with quantification. We therefore discuss the application of MISPE to compounds from complex matrices, such as environmental and biological samples. (C) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.