Rationally designed molecularly imprinted polymer membranes as antibody and enzyme mimics in analytical biotechnology

•New principles of receptor and catalytic sites’ formation in MIPs were described.•Computational modeling provides synthesis receptors with desirable selectivity.•MIP membranes can serve as a basis for biosensors for “point-of-care” applications.•Approaches to the improvement of working parameters of biosensors were described. The paper is a self-review of works on development of new approaches to formation of mimics of receptor and catalytic sites of biological macromolecules in the structure of highly cross-linked polymer membranes and thin films. The general strategy for formation of the binding sites in molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) membranes and thin films was described. A selective recognition of a number of food toxins, endocrine disruptors and metabolites is based on the results of computational modeling data for the prediction and optimization of their structure. A strategy proposed for the design of the artificial binding sites in MIP membranes was supported by the research performed by the authors on development of a number of the MIP membrane-based affinity and catalytic biosensors for selective and sensitive measurement (detection limits 0.3–100 nM) of the target analytes. Novel versatile approaches aimed at improving sensitivity of the developed biosensor systems were discussed. [Display omitted]