| 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. |