Method for preparing molecularly imprinted polymers (MIP) through radical polymerisation

A method for preparing a molecularly imprinted polymer by radical polymerization, the method comprising:

• contacting at least one imprinting molecule or entity, one or more identical or different monomers capable of forming the molecularly imprinted polymer, and at least one molecular initiator having more than four chemical functionalities, each of the more than four chemical functionalities on the at least one molecular initiator capable of forming one or more radicals for initiating a polymerization of the one or more monomers over or around the at least one imprinting molecule or entity, wherein the at least one molecular initiator having more than four chemical functionalities is selected from the group consisting of Formula D1, D2, D3, D4, D5, and D6:
• performing radical polymerization of one or more identical or different monomers over or around the at least one imprinting molecule or entity under exposure of a light irradiation of wavelength ranging between 100 nm and 1200 nm or a supply of thermal energy to form the molecularly imprinted polymer over or around the at least one imprinting molecule or entity;
• and
• removing from the molecularly imprinted polymer formed during the radical polymerization with at least one solvent the monomers that are not polymerized, all of the imprinting molecule or entity, a portion of the imprinting molecule or entity, the monomers that are not polymerized and all of the imprinting molecule or entity, or the monomers that are not polymerized and a portion of the imprinting molecule or entity;
• wherein the at least one molecular initiator is not immobilized at a solid substrate surface before the radical polymerization.