Molecularly Imprinted Polymers for Diagnosis and Medical Applications: Recent Advances and Progress

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) represent a powerful class of synthetic materials engineered to mimic the molecular recognition capabilities of natural receptors with enhanced stability, selectivity, and adaptability. This review critically examines recent advances in the design, synthesis, and biomedical applications of MIPs, emphasizing their transformative potential in diagnostics, drug delivery, and health monitoring technologies. It outlines the evolution of MIP technology—from early developments to the integration of nanomaterials and digital design tools—and explores their utility in detecting disease biomarkers associated with chronic stress, diabetes, cancer, and infectious diseases. The review also discusses the implementation of MIPs in wearable sensors, lab-on-chip devices, and non-invasive sampling platforms, highlighting their suitability for point-of-care diagnostics and personalized medicine. Furthermore, it addresses the emerging use of MIPs in tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and chemical exposure monitoring. Key technical challenges such as imprinting large biomolecules, batch-to-batch variability, and biofouling resistance are analyzed alongside innovative strategies, including epitope imprinting, antifouling coatings, and green synthesis approaches. Finally, future directions are proposed, including the integration of MIPs with machine learning, self-powered systems, and smart diagnostics to enable next-generation, scalable healthcare solutions.