Magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers (MMIPs) are used as artificial antibody materials. MMIPs have attracted a great deal of interest because of their low cost, wide practicality, predetermination, stability and their ability to achieve rapid separation from complex sample environments by the action of external magnetic field. MMIPs can simulate the natural recognition of entities. They are widely used because of their great advantages in terms of high selectivity. In this review article, the preparation methods of Fe3O4 NPs and a detailed summary of the commonly used methods for amination modification of Fe3O4 NPs are introduced, preparation of Ag NPs of different sizes and Au NPs of various shapes and preparation methods of magnetic molecularly imprinted plasmonic SERS composite nanoparticles such as Fe3O4@Ag NPs, Fe3O4/Ag NPs, Fe3O4@Au NPs, Fe3O4/Au NPs, Fe3O4@Au/Ag NPs and Fe3O4@Ag@Au NPs are main summarized. In addition, preparation process and the current application of MMIPs prepared from magnetic molecularly imprinted plasmonic SERS composite nanoparticles incorporating different functional monomers in a nuclear-satellite structure are also presented. Finally, the existing challenges and future prospects of MMIPs in applications are discussed.
Keywords: Ag nanoparticles; Au nanoparticles; Fe3O4 nanoparticles; SERS; magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers; preparation methods.