Molecular recognition displayed by naturally occurring receptors has continued to inspire new innovations aimed at developing systems that can mimic this natural phenomenon. Since 1930s, a technology called molecular imprinting for producing biomimetic receptors has been in place. In this technology, tailor made binding sites that selectively bind a given target analyte (also called template) are incorporated in a polymer matrix by polymerizing functional monomers and cross‐linking monomers around a target analyte followed by removal of the analyte to leave behind cavities specific to the analyte. The success of the imprinting process is defined by two main figures of merit, that is, the imprinting factor, and selectivity, which are determined by comparing the amount of target analyte or structural analogue bound by the molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) and the nonimprinted polymer (NIP). NIP is a control synthesized alongside the MIP but in the absence of the template. However, questions arise on whether these figures of merit are reliable measures of the imprinting effect because of the significant differences between the MIP and the NIP in terms of their physical and chemical characteristics. Therefore, this review critically looks into this subject, with a view of defining the best approaches for determining the imprinting effect.

中文翻译：

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分子印迹聚合物 - 仔细研究用于确定印迹效果的对照聚合物：简短回顾。

自然存在的受体显示的分子识别继续激发旨在开发可以模仿这种自然现象的系统的新创新。自 1930 年代以来，一种被称为分子印迹的技术用于生产仿生受体。在这项技术中，通过在目标分析物周围聚合功能单体和交联单体，然后去除分析物以留下特定的空腔，将定制的结合位点选择性地结合给定的目标分析物（也称为模板）并入聚合物基质中到分析物。压印过程的成功取决于两个主要的品质因数，即压印因子和选择性，这是通过比较分子印迹聚合物 (MIP) 和非印迹聚合物 (NIP) 结合的目标分析物或结构类似物的量来确定的。NIP 是与 MIP 一起合成的对照，但没有模板。然而，由于 MIP 和 NIP 之间在物理和化学特性方面的显着差异，这些品质因数是否是印记效应的可靠度量存在问题。因此，这篇评论批判性地研究了这个主题，以期确定确定印记效应的最佳方法。由于 MIP 和 NIP 在物理和化学特性方面存在显着差异，因此关于这些品质因数是否是印记效应的可靠度量存在问题。因此，这篇评论批判性地研究了这个主题，以期确定确定印记效应的最佳方法。由于 MIP 和 NIP 在物理和化学特性方面存在显着差异，因此关于这些品质因数是否是印记效应的可靠度量存在问题。因此，这篇评论批判性地研究了这个主题，以期确定确定印记效应的最佳方法。