Wearable biosensors based on molecularly imprinted polymers

Abstract

Wearable biosensors have gained substantial attention in healthcare for their ability to provide real-time, non-invasive, and continuous monitoring of physiological biomarkers. However, challenges such as low selectivity, limited stability, and integration complexity in biofluid environments hinder their broader application. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs), with their synthetic and biomimetic recognition capabilities, offer a promising strategy to address these limitations. MIPs serve the functionality by forming highly specific recognition sites that match the size, shape, and chemical properties of target analytes, enabling selective detection even in complex matrices like sweat or interstitial fluid. This review comprehensively overviews recent advances in wearable molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP)-based biosensors. We first introduce the fundamental principles and signal transduction mechanisms of MIP sensors, followed by an in-depth discussion of design and fabrication strategies tailored for flexible platforms. Finally, the applications of wearable MIP sensors are summarized across three major domains, including stress hormone monitoring, metabolic biomarker tracking, and therapeutic drug detection. We also conclude with an outlook on current challenges and highlight future directions for realizing next-generation wearable diagnostics based on MIP technology.

Keywords

flexible electronics / molecularly imprinted polymers / wearable biosensors

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