Advantages

Drawbacks

Covalent

Formation of better defined and more homogeneous binding sites.

Polymerization ensures the maximization of the number of specific binding sites

Difficulty in template removal and rebinding.

Semi-covalent

Random distribution and association of functional monomers to template molecules.

Production of uniform recognition sites.

There may be template bleeding when hydrolysis is unable to remove template.

Non-covalent

Experimental simplicity.

Easy removal of the template under mild conditions.

Fast template binding and release kinetics.

Similarity to natural process.

Weak average affinity of binding site.

Formation of Nonselective binding sites as a result of random incorporation of excess monomers into the polymer matrix.

Strong solvent influences: less polar solvents facilitate hydrogen bonding; more polar solvents facilitate stronger nonpolar interactions.