Molecularly imprinted polymer

A Molecularly Imprinted Polymer (MIP) is a polymer that has been processed using the molecular imprinting technique which leaves cavities in polymer matrix with affinity to a chosen "template" molecule. The process usually involves initiating the polymerization of monomers in the presence of a template molecule that is extracted afterwards, thus leaving complementary cavities behind. These polymers have affinity for the original molecule and have been used in applications such as chemical separations, catalysis, or molecular sensors. Published works on the topic date to the 1930s.