Advances in molecularly imprinted polymers for electrochemical sensing

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are synthetic receptors that can recognize target analytes through tailored binding sites, offering a stable, cost-effective and versatile alternative to natural bioreceptors. In electrochemical sensing, MIPs have attracted growing interest because they can provide high selectivity while enabling rapid, portable and low-cost detection.

This webinar will introduce the fundamentals of molecular imprinting, including binding site design, polymerization strategies, template removal and immobilization on electrode surfaces. It will then compare molecularly imprinted non-conducting polymers (MINPs) and molecularly imprinted conducting polymers (MICPs), focusing on their differences in conductivity, binding-site accessibility, reproducibility, sensitivity and selectivity. Recent advances in MIP-based electrochemical sensors will be discussed across representative applications, along with current limitations and design strategies to improve sensor performance.

The webinar will conclude with perspectives on how conducting polymers, nanomaterials and optimized molecular recognition can guide the development of next-generation selective and sensitive electrochemical sensors.

Wonhyeong Kim is a postdoctoral research associate in the department of materials science and engineering at the University of Arizona. He received his PhD in materials engineering from Auburn University, where his research focused on molecularly imprinted polymers, conducting polymers and electrochemical sensors for selective chemical and biomarker detection. His work has resulted in multiple publications in leading journals and he was the recipient of the 2025 ECS Sensor Division Student Research Award for his contributions to molecularly imprinted polymer-based electrochemical sensors. His research interests include molecular imprinting, conducting polymers, electrochemical sensors and functional materials for selective chemical sensing, with recent work expanding into advanced polymeric materials and nanomaterials for environmental applications.

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