title: Molecularly imprinted polymers in the drug discovery process.
abstract: Since molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are designed to have a memory for their molecular templates it is easy to draw parallels with the affinity between biological receptors and their substrates. Could MIPs take the place of natural receptors in the selection of potential drug molecules from synthetic compound libraries? To answer that question this review discusses the results of MIP studies which attempt to emulate natural receptors. In addition the possible use of MIPs to guide a compound library synthesis towards a desired biological activity is highlighted.
authors.affiliation: School of Life and Health Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham B4 7ET, UK. D.L.Rathbone@aston.ac.uk
authors.forename: Daniel L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Rathbone
mesh_terms: D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D015195:Drug Design; D011108:Polymers / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D013678:Technology, Pharmaceutical
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers