Molecularly imprinted polymers for biosensing of hormones in food safety and biomedical analysis: Progress and perspectives

Hormones are a group of chemicals which play a significant role in regulating the natural state of the body. The natural sleep cycle, sexual function, reproduction, growth, and development are significant on them. In addition, they act as an agent to facilitate the communication between the body and brain as well as regulate the stress response and circadian rhythm. On the other hand, dysregulated and abnormal hormonal processes can lead to various diseases in the human body. Therefore, precise and prompt monitoring of hormones can be considered one of necessities of a healthy society. Recently, analytical approaches based on molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) have revealed a high potential for sensitive and selective detection hormones. However, the lack of conductivity and electrocatalytic activity in MIPs can limit their applicability in the sensing field to some extent. Thereby, the incorporation of nanomaterials with MIPs can open exciting possibilities for the efficient detection of hormones. In this review, we have taken a closer look at the current research advances in MIP-based bio(sensors), highlighting and summarizing the key findings. Additionally, we will provide an overview of MIP modified with nanomaterials and biological elements for experimental identification and point-of-care testing of hormones. It should be noted that this is the first comprehensive review of the identification of hormones using MIP-based sensors. [Display omitted] •Molecularly imprinted polymers have attracted considerable attention due to their privileged potentials.•The importance of molecularly imprinted polymers and their application in hormones detection were discussed.•Different types of bio(sensors) based on molecularly imprinted polymers were introduced.