Molecularly Imprinted Polymer-Based Sensors in Food Contaminants Analysis: Advances, Applications, and Future Trends

Molecularly Imprinted Polymer (MIP)-based sensors have gained increasing attention in the field of food safety analysis due to their unique ability to selectively recognize and quantify chemical contaminants and allergens with interesting sensitivity. These synthetic receptors, often referred to as “plastic antibodies,” offer several advantages over conventional analytical methods, including high stability, cost-effectiveness, reusability, and compatibility with miniaturized sensor platforms. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in the design, fabrication, and application of MIP-based sensors for the detection of a broad range of food contaminants, including pesticides, antibiotics, mycotoxins, heavy metals, acrylamide, heterocyclic amines, allergens, viruses, and bacteria. Various transduction mechanisms—electrochemical, optical, thermal, and mass-sensitive—are discussed in relation to their integration with MIP recognition elements. The review also highlights the advantages and limitations of MIPs in comparison with traditional techniques such as ELISA and HPLC. Finally, we explore current challenges and emerging trends, including nanomaterial integration, multiplexed detection, and smartphone-based platforms, which are expected to drive future developments toward real-time, point-of-need, and regulatory-compliant food safety monitoring tools.