Molecularly imprinted polymers:: new tailor-made materials for selective solid-phase extraction

Solid-phase extraction (SPE) materials are a promising and innovative application of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs). These polymers allow certain analytes to be selectively extracted from complex matrices without matrix interference. The applications described in this article include the molecularly imprinted SPE (MISPE) of several kinds of analytes of biological, pharmaceutical and environmental interest. To ensure selectivity emphasis is placed on synthetic considerations and the various steps in the extraction process. Finally, we also report on recent advances in this technique. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.