Molecular imprinting on the nanoscale rapid detection of cells

In the last 30 years, molecular imprinting has been evidenced as a desirable approach to design artificial, specific, and selective recognition sites for the target molecules/cells. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are the most encouraging reflection of the advanced area of biomimetics and have attracted important popularity for the detection of many types of molecules including peptides, proteins, and even cells. In this context, imprinting of relatively small molecules is well identified; however, imprinting of cells still remains a big challenge from past to present. In this chapter, the importance of molecular recognition mechanisms in the renovation of artificial regions was stated, and molecular imprinting strategies used for cell detection were presented. In this respect, cell lithography, epitope imprinting, whole-cell imprinting technology involving cell-mediated lithography, and microcontact imprinting approaches were explained. The applications of nanoparticles, quantum dots, sensing platforms, and imaging approaches within the extensive group of nano-MIPs were discussed in terms of microbial, viral, and mammalian cell detection. In conclusion, the challenges and future perspectives on the construction of nano-MIPs aiming for cell detection were outlined.