Molecularly Imprinted Fluorescent Sensing in Environmental Analysis
Summary
Molecularly imprinted fluorescent sensing integrates the high selectivity of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) with the sensitivity of fluorescent nanomaterials to detect trace contaminants in environmental media. In this approach, a template molecule—ranging from pharmaceutical residues and pesticides to mycotoxins—is used during polymerisation to create binding sites complementary in shape, size and chemical functionality. After removal of the template, the resulting MIP layer exhibits tailored cavities that selectively rebind the target analyte. Coupling these imprinted polymers with fluorescent reporters such as carbon quantum dots, graphene quantum dots or other semiconductor nanodots enables direct optical transduction: binding events induce changes in fluorescence intensity or wavelength via mechanisms including quenching, energy transfer or emission enhancement. This hybrid platform offers rapid response, low limits of detection and straightforward operation under ambient conditions. Advances in green synthetic routes, surface imprinting methods and nanoscale control have broadened the scope of analytes and sample types—ranging from water and soil extracts to food matrices. Recent developments have also demonstrated portable formats such as paper strips and optical-fibre probes, underscoring the potential for in situ monitoring. Taken together, molecularly imprinted fluorescent sensors represent a versatile and cost-effective toolkit for real-time environmental surveillance and the management of emerging pollutants.
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Molecularly Imprinted Fluorescent Sensing in Environmental Analysis publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in molecularly imprinted fluorescent sensing in environmental analysis across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP): A synthetic polymer formed in the presence of a template molecule that creates selective binding sites complementary to the template.
Carbon quantum dot (CQD): A nanoscale fluorescent carbon material with tunable emission, high photostability and low toxicity, used as a fluorescent reporter.
Fluorescence quenching: A decrease in fluorescence intensity caused by interactions between the fluorescent reporter and an analyte, often through energy or electron transfer.
Template molecule: The target or surrogate molecule used during polymerisation to imprint binding sites within the polymer matrix.
Limit of detection (LOD): The lowest concentration of an analyte that produces a fluorescence signal distinguishable from background noise.
References
- Highly sensitive and selective detection of naproxen via molecularly imprinted carbon dots as a fluorescent sensor. RSC Advances (2021).
- Highly Selective Fluorescence Sensor Based on Graphene Quantum Dots for Sulfamethoxazole Determination. Materials (2020).
- Carbon Quantum Dots Encapsulated Molecularly Imprinted Fluorescence Quenching Particles for Sensitive Detection of Zearalenone in Corn Sample. Toxins (2018).
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