Advancements of multiple template-based molecularly imprinted polymers (mt-MIPs) in deep eutectic solvents (DESs): Towards greener imprinting approaches

Document Type

Review

Publication Date

3-1-2026

Abstract

This review is the first to provide a systematic integration of deep eutectic solvents (DESs) into multi-template molecular imprinting, establishing DESs-based multi-template molecularly imprinted polymers (DESs-mt-MIPs) as an emerging class of green affinity materials. The review systematically covers the fundamental principles of molecular imprinting, emphasizing the advantages and mechanisms of DESs-based multiple-template imprinting over traditional MIPs approaches. This review also investigates the pivotal functions of DESs as both functional monomers and porogens in the fabrication of mt-MIPs, demonstrating their ability to enhance the polymers' selectivity, adsorption capacity, and environmental friendliness. Furthermore, the review presents various innovative synthesis techniques, characterizes the structural and functional properties of DESs-mt-MIPs, and discusses their applications in environmental pollutant removal, biomedical fields, and food safety. Despite the promising potential, current challenges, including the type of DESs that can be used in MIPs synthesis, the combination of multiple templates, stability, reproducibility, and large-scale production, are highlighted, and future research directions are proposed to address these issues and explore mt-MIPs in DESs further.

Publication Title

Trac Trends in Analytical Chemistry

ISSN

01659936

DOI

10.1016/j.trac.2026.118673

Volume

196

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