Research Progress on Molecularly Imprinted Polymer-Aptasensors for Food Safety Detection

The biological accumulation of microcontaminants and associated antibiotic resistance in food poses significant threats to both human and environmental health. Therefore, it is particularly important to design and develop methods of efficient identification and detection. Recently, molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) and aptamers (Apts), as an emerging hybrid recognition element, have received widespread attention from researchers. Because the dual recognition-based sensors have exhibited improved properties and desirable features, such as high sensitivity, low limit of detection, high stability under harsh environmental conditions, high binding affinity, which are expected to be applied in food safety fields. This paper compares the characteristics of MIP and Apt, highlighting the significant advantages of aptamer-integrated MIP (MIP@Apt) dual recognition. It then systematically discusses three synthetic strategies for MIP-Aptamer hybrid recognition systems and their applications for food safety detection, focusing on analyzing their detection strategies, sensing mechanisms, construction methodologies, performance evaluations, and potential application value. It also offers substantive perspectives on both the prevailing limitations and promising developmental pathways for MIP-aptamer hybrid recognition-based sensing platforms.