Epitope Imprinted Nanoparticles as Customized Synthetic Antibodies for Biorecognition in Theranostics

Abstract As medicine advances towards an era of personalized and targeted therapies, the need for precise and reliable molecular recognition elements becomes increasingly critical. These elements are essential for directing therapeutic agents to specific cells or tissues, thereby maximizing efficacy while minimizing off-target effects. Among the emerging technologies, epitope-imprinted nanoparticles (EINPs) have demonstrated exceptional potential as “synthetic antibodies” for the recognition of biomarkers. These nanoparticles are designed to mimic the binding capabilities of natural antibodies but with enhanced stability, specificity, and ease of production. Unlike traditional antibodies, which can be costly, labile, and prone to significant side effects, EINPs offer a cost-effective, robust, and customizable platform for targeted sensing and therapeutic applications. This Perspective Review explores the design, synthesis, and application of epitope-imprinted nanoparticles, highlighting their advantages and potential to revolutionize the landscape of abiotic molecular recognition in disease detection and targeted therapies. Finally, we present perspectives on foreseeable breakthroughs and advances, offering insights into how molecular imprinting techniques can be expanded to new biomedical fields, such as tissue engineering. Lay Summary Personalized medicine requires precise tools to identify and target diseased cells while avoiding off target effects. Epitope-imprinted nanoparticles (EINPs) are emerging as synthetic alternatives to antibodies, designed to recognize disease markers with high stability, low cost, and fewer limitations than natural antibodies. By mimicking biological recognition, EINPs show promise in applications such as disease detection, drug delivery, and tissue engineering. This perspective review focus on how these nanoparticles are created and applied, and highlights their potential to transform regenerative medicine and targeted therapies through more reliable, customizable molecular recognition systems.