Combination of molecularly imprinted polymers and carbon nanomaterials as a versatile biosensing tool in sample analysis: Recent applications and challenges

Due to some unique properties, molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) have shown great potential for the recognition of a wide variety of analytes, ranging from small molecules to macromolecules. But some disadvantages exist because the MIPs are lack of conductivity and electrocatalytically activity, which may potentially limit their application in the field of sensors. In order to improve their analytical performance and overcome these disadvantages in the chemical sensors, different carbon nanotubes (CNTs), graphene oxides (GO), carbon electrodes, and carbon dots (CDs) are combined with MIPs and magnetic-MIPs (MMIPs). This review describes the advancements and progressive applications made over the last three years in the development of sensors for sample analysis. We compare the analytical parameters of the reviewed approaches with earlier studies and also compare various CNTs, GO, CD and other carbon nanomaterials in size, preparation method, and price. Finally, some of the future perspectives will be given. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved,