Photopolymerization and photostructuring of molecularly imprinted polymers for sensor applications

Abstract

Molecularly Imprinted Polymers (MIP) were prepared by photochemical route. Photoinduced polymerization was used to achieve the preparation of the MIP and at the same time spatially controlled irradiation allowed shaping the material to confer it an optical function useful for interrogation. Such route significantly simplifies the integration of MIP for sensor applications. Specific photopolymerizable MIP were designed for photopolymerization at different wavelengths and advanced methods of photopatterning were used including optical near-field, interference or self-guiding lithography. Photopatterning appears thereby as one of the most suitable methods for patterning MIP at the micro and nano scale, directly on the transducer surface.