CHAPTER 4: Application of Nanomaterials to Molecularly Imprinted Polymers

The combination of nanomaterials, with their specific and particular physico-chemical properties, with the selective recognition abilities of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) yields nano-composites that could find application in a variety of areas, from micro-electronics to analytical chemistry and to nano-medicine. Herein, the integration of nanomaterials to MIPs is discussed with particular attention paid to magnetic nanomaterials and conductive nanotubes. The derivatization methods are illustrated, the enhancement of the analytical performances of the resulting composites is evaluated, and the main niches of applications and the achieved results are critically discussed.