Molecular imprinting technology for sensing and separation in food safety

For nearly four decades, molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs), a type of artificially nanostructured material, have captured the attention of many scientists as a result of their ease of preparation and utilization, as well as their nominal cost and high selectivity for target molecules in different areas of analytical chemistry and biochemistry. MIPs can be used to build various molecules, enabling designs for various target molecules, such as toxic and deleterious substances, drug and pesticide remnants, heavy metals and peptides, as well as high-molecular-weight biomolecules, such as viruses, cells, and proteins. Molecular imprinting technologies with identification skills, like the ambidextrous kit, can be applied to a wide range of areas including chromatography, chemical sensors, and food analysis for food safety purposes. Due to the non-selective cleanup and time-consuming procedures, it is difficult to examine trace analytes in the food matrix. Food safety during production, transportation, storage, and consumption is increasingly important in worldwide. Thus, novel methods and technologies are being developed to control food safety, particularly as it related to human health. In this chapter, we have compiled recently published and novel studies, focusing on the sensing/separation of food safety and the evaluation of detrimental substances utilizing molecular imprinting technologies.