Table 1. Epitopes chosen for molecular imprinting according to the applied selection criteria, their respective target molecule, application, and reported performance.

NR, not reported.

Epitope selection criteria	Target molecule	Epitope sequence/molecule	Application	Performance*	Ref.
C terminus	Human serum albumin (HSA)	AASQAALGL	Bioseparation	Q = 46.6 mg g−1	(42)
				IF = 4.9
			Bioseparation	Q = 103.67 mg g−1	(81)
				IF = 2.57
			Sensing	LOD = 26 ng ml−1	(102)
				IF = 6.9
		KLVAASQAALGL	Sensing	LOD = 44.3 nmol ml−1	(88)
				IF = 2.65
	Bovine serum albumin	VVSTQTALA	Sensing	KD = 0.0254 mg ml−1	(75)
				IF = 4.8
			Sensing	LOD = 0,02 ng ml−1	(103)
	β-Amyloid	GGVVIA (isoform 42)	Bioseparation	IF = 2.6	(90)
				KA = 89 mM−1
				Q = 4.7 μmol g−1
		MVGGVV (isoform 40)		IF = 5.3
				KA = 154 mM−1
				Q = 4.8 μmol g−1
	Immunoglobulin G (IgG) heavy chain	QKSLSLSPGK	Bioseparation	Q = 30 μg cm−2	(106)
			Bioseparation	KD = 27.4 nM	(168)
	Insulin	NR	Sensing	LOD = 7.24 fM	(197)
	Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)	SLNITSLGLRSLKEISDG	Sensing	LOD = 3 nM	(167)
			Targeted drug delivery	KD = 3.6 nM	(77)
	Human VEGF	IKPHQGQHI	Targeted drug delivery	KD = 1.78 nM	(73)
	β2 microglobulin (B2M)	RVNHVTLSQPKIVKW	Targeted drug delivery and bioimaging	KD = 52 nM	(169)
		KIVKWDRDM	Bioseparation	KD = 208 nM	(172)
				IF = 6.5
	Myoglobin	NYKELGFQG	Bioseparation	IF = 5.6	(172)
	Cytochrome c (Cyt c)	YLKKATNE	Sensing	LOD = 3.6 ng ml−1	(222)
				IF = 3
		AYLKKATNE	Bioseparation	Q = 86.47 mg g−1	(100)
				IF = 3.48
				Q = 780 mg g−1	(82)
				IF = 11.7
				Q = 67.6 mg g−1	(101)
				IF = 4.54
				Q = 1.32 mg g−1	(223)
				IF = 3.94
			Sensing	LOD = 89 nM	(76)
				IF = 4.24
	Porcine serum albumin (PSA)	VIEIRGILA	Bioseparation	Q = 45.06 mg g−1	(97)
				IF = 4.5
N terminus	Folate receptor α	QTRIAWARTELLNVAMNAKH	Targeted drug delivery	KD = 5.72 nM	(94)
				IF = 6
	Cyt c	GDVEKGKKI	Sensing	LOD = 89 nM	(76)
				IF = 1.88
	PSA	RGVFRRDTY	Bioseparation	Q = 45.06 mg g−1	(97)
				IF = 4.5
	Outer membrane lipoprotein	NQATAKARANLAANLKSTLQKDLENEKTRTVDA	Bacterial binding and eradication	NR	(92)
	EGFR	EEKKVCQGT	Targeted bioimaging	LOD = 0.73 μg ml−1	(95)
				IF = 2.76
	CD59	YNCPNPTADCK	Targeted bioimaging and drug delivery	IF = 3.5	(96)
				IF = 5.46	(199)
				Q = 40.4 mg g−1
	Hyaluronan-binding protein 1 (HABP1/ p32)	LHTDGDKAF	Targeted bioimaging and drug delivery	IF = 5.1	(198)
				Q = 337.6 mg g−1
Solubility and distinctiveness between homologous proteins	Regenerating protein 1B (REG1B)	SCSGFKKWKDESCEKK (p2)	Sensing	KD = 25.17 pg ml−1	(104)
		KSWDTGSPSSANAGYCAS (p4)
				IF = 2.9 (p2)
		KESSTDDSNVWIG (p6)
				IF = 2.6 (p4)
				IF = 3.0 (p6)
		NEDRETWVDADLY (p1)	Sensing and bioseparation	1 < IF < 4	(99)
		KESGTDDFNVWIG (p3)
		KSWGIGAPSSVNPGYCVS (p5)
		SSTGFQKWKDVPCEDK (p7)
Previously verified immunogenic epitopes or bioinformatics- predicted regions	Class 3 outer membrane protein allele of N. meningitidis	KGLVDDADI	Sensing	LOD = 15.71 ng ml−1	(111)
				IF = 3.34
	fbpA periplasm protein of N. meningitidis	KPYAKNSVALQAV	Sensing	LOD = 1.39 ng ml−1	(112)
				IF = 12.27
	Proline-tRNA ligase protein of M. leprae	LDIYTTLARDMAAIP	Sensing	LOD = 0.161 nM	(109)
				IF = 8.28
	HIV-1 glycoprotein 41 (gp41)	RILAVERYLKDQQLLGIWGCSGKLICTTAVPWNAS	Sensing	KD = 3.17 nM (for epitope, not protein)	(108)
		CGSWSNKSC	Targeted drug delivery	KD = 85.4 nM	(117)
	Troponin T (TnT) isoform 6	MSDIEEVVEE (1–10)	Sensing	LOD = 14.8 nM	(72)
		EEAKEAEDGPM (50–60)
		EQQRIRNEREKERQN (136–150)
		GKAKVTGRWK (279–288)
	Anthrax-protective antigen (PA) 83	VKKSDEYTF (71–79)	Sensing	KD = 20 pM	(98)
		RYDMLNISSLRQDG (659–672)		KD = 10 pM
		YNDKLPLYISNPNY (681–694)		KD = 20 pM
		DKLPLYISNPNY (683–694)		KD = 30 pM
		NGDTSTNGIK (713–722)		KD = 200 pM
	Neuron-specific enolase (NSE)	AMRLGAEVYHTL	Sensing	KD = 0.23 nM (Cys)	(91)
				IF = 8.8 (Cys)
				KD = 0.03 nM (His)
				IF = 11 (His)
	Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)	C*PLHNQEKCSKPC*ARV	Targeted drug delivery	NR	(118)
	HABP1/p32	C1NC2KAPETADC1AFVC2FLS	Targeted drug delivery	NR	(71)
	Transforming growth factor–β3 (TGF-β3)	C1NC2KAPETALC1TNYC2FRN	Tissue engineering	NR	(48)
	NSE	LKAVDHINST	Sensing	KD = 53 pM	(113)
		CKGVLKAVDHINSTIAPC	Sensing	KD = 26 pM	(89)
				9 < IF < 10
	Transferrin	CGLVPVLAENYNK	Bioseparation	KD = 2.0 nM	(190)
				IF = 1.6
	Cardiac troponin I	NIDALSGMEGR	Bioseparation	KD = 23 nM	(190)
				IF = 1.9
				KD = 1 nM	(224)
				IF = 6
Common sequence in peptide family	Cholecystokinins	WMDF	Bioseparation	Q = 0.73 mg g−1 and IF = 24.5 (CCK5)	(74)
				Q = 1.1 mg g−1 and IF = 28.3 (CCK8)
	Enkephalins	YGGF	Bioseparation	Q = 1.2 mg g−1 and IF = 32.2 (Met enkephalin)	(68)
				Q = 0.94 mg g−1 and IF = 33.2 (Leu enkephalin)
	Angiotensins I and II	DRV	Bioseparation	LOD = 0.07 ng ml−1 and IF = 4.9 (ang I)	(93)
				LOD = 0.06 ng ml−1 and IF = 5.2 (ang II)
	Amanitins	WC	Bioseparation	IF = 6.5	(105)
				KD = 112.7 μg liter−1
				Q = 0.408 mg g−1
Chemical properties (pI, hydropathy, and solubility)	Atrial natriuretic peptide	RMDRIGAQSG	Sensing	KD = 20 pM	(107)
	Brain natriuretic peptide	FGRKMDRISS	Sensing	KD = 2 pM	(107)
Single amino acid	IgG	l-lysine	Bioseparation	Q = 75.1 mg g−1	(142)
				IF = 1.93
Structurally similar small molecule	Proteins containing phosphorylated tyrosine residues	PPA	Bioseparation	Q = 7.35 mg g−1	(154)
				IF = 2.5
				Q = 23 mg g−1	(153)
				IF = 1.8
				Q = 66 mg g−1	(156)
				IF = 3.6
				Q = 32 mg g−1	(70)
				IF = 4.59
			Sensing	LOD = 0.37 μM	(155)
				IF = 2.68
Monosaccharides	Glycosylation sites	N-acetylneuraminic acid, glucuronic acid	Targeted bioimaging	IF = 3.1 (glucuronic acid)	(157)
				IF = 2.4 (N- acetylneuraminic acid)
			Targeted bioimaging	KD = 141 μM (glucuronic acid)	(158)
				KD = 24 μM (N- acetylneuraminic acid)
		N-acetylneuraminic acid	Targeted bioimaging	KD = 1.7 × 10−4 M	(85)
	Hyaluronic acid (HA)	d-glucuronic acid	Targeted bioimaging	KD = 800 nM	(159)
				IF = 3.2	(86)
Monosaccharide and single amino acid	Telavancin	Mannose-tryptophan	Bioseparation	IF = 3.0	(160)
				Q = 6.26 mg g−1
	Teicoplanin	Mannose-tryptophan	Bioseparation	KD = 1.865 mg liter−1	(161)
				IF > 2
Digested glycans from glycoprotein surface	RNase B	Man5GlcNAc2, Man6GlcNAc2	Bioseparation	KD = 24.89 μM	(139)
				IF = 8.4
		Man7GlcNAc2, Man8GlcNAc2
	Transferrin	NR	Bioseparation	IF = 21.8	(139)
	HER2	NR	Targeted drug delivery bioimaging	IF = 8.02	(84)
	Erythropoietin	NR	Targeted drug delivery bioimaging	NR	(84)
Digested peptides from protein surface	Hemoglobin	VLSPADK, VHLTPEEK (among others not specified)	Bioseparation	IF < 2	(67)
	Pro-gastrin releasing peptide (ProGRP)	NLLGLIEAK	Bioseparation	KD = 3.4 × 10−6 M	(140)
				Q = 59 × 10−3 mol g−1
				KD = 7.1 × 10−6 M	(141)
				Q = 39 × 10−6 mol g−1

*Imprinting factor (IF) is given for all works where it is reported. Dissociation constant (K_D) is the preferred performance parameter and is provided for all works that report it. When K_D is not available, the most adequate parameter reported in each study is provided, namely, limit of detection (LOD) for sensing and imaging applications, and adsorption capacity (Q) for bioseparation.