The role and the place of ionic liquids in molecularly imprinted polymer-based electrochemical sensors development for sensitive drug assay

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs), which have been used for a long time, are used as a transducer and recognition element to detect the target molecule in electrochemical studies. Ionic liquids (ILs) are particularly attractive materials for electrode construction and modification because of their electrochemical stability, high conductivity, and wide electrochemical window. ILs are frequently used by methods such as electrodeposition, electrosynthesis, electrocatalysis, and electrochemical techniques. However, electrochemical studies based on carbon ionic liquid electrodes (CILEs), carbon nanomaterial, and MIP-based IL-modified electrodes have been highly preferred in the last few years. MIPs and ILs are also used in combination due to their multifunctional properties and simple preparation steps. However, for high-speed analysis of relevant biological and environmental substances, MIP-based ILs significantly contribute to obtaining more sensitive, more selective, and reproducible electrochemical studies. This review focuses on the recent applications of MIP-based ILs, based on research published from 2013 to 2021, with an emphasis on modification strategies and electrochemical sensitivity in the manufacture of electrochemical sensors for analytes using different types of modified electrodes and electrochemical methods. Current studies were examined and discussed in terms of the materials used in the electrode composition, the methods applied, and the performances obtained. Appropriate selection of electrode design, presence of synergistic agents, and all electrochemical techniques used are essential in determining the performance of the produced electrode. •The first comprehensive study focusing on the place of ILs in MIP-based electrochemical sensors were discussed as details.•The advantages of ILs to electrochemical sensing applications was reviewed.•The importance of MIP in electrochemical sensing application was discussed.