Molecularly imprinted polymer-based sensors: Design and advances in the analysis of DNA and protein

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) have emerged in recent years as highly promising materials for sensor design, owing to their high selectivity, stability, and reusability toward target analytes. This review specifically focuses on MIP-based sensor applications aimed at detecting critically important biomolecules such as proteins and DNA, which play essential roles especially in the biomedical field. Although antibody-based immunoassays for protein detection and PCR-based methods for DNA analysis provide high specificity and sensitivity, these conventional approaches have significant limitations, including high costs, limited stability, complex instrumentation, and the necessity of highly skilled personnel. MIPs have recently gained attention as synthetic recognition elements capable of overcoming these limitations. The rationale behind jointly addressing protein and DNA analysis lies primarily in the shared challenges presented by these biomolecules, such as molecular size, structural complexity, and specificity of binding. Furthermore, similar analytical approaches and transduction mechanisms employed in the sensor designs for these two groups allow for a more comprehensive and integrated evaluation. This review thoroughly examines MIP structures integrated into electrochemical, optical, quartz crystal microbalance (QCM), and other sensor platforms. Current limitations such as heterogeneity of binding sites and incomplete removal of template molecules are critically discussed, alongside proposed solutions like incorporation of nanomaterials, computational modeling, and novel polymerization strategies. In conclusion, this review provides an extensive evaluation of recent advances in protein and DNA detection using MIP-based sensors, clearly outlining the current state, encountered challenges, and future perspectives within the field.