Figure. 1 Analytical Chemistry front cover, featuring the paper by Gast et al.

The paper by Gast et al. "Enhanced Selectivity by Passivation: Molecular Imprints for Viruses with Exceptional Binding Properties" (DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.7b05148) was featured on the front cover of the May 1st issue (Vol. 90, Issue 9) of Analytical Chemistry from the ACS. The paper describes the synthesis of sol-gel microparticles, surface imprinted with adenovirus and the enhanced selectivity obtained by the the use of BSA as a blocking agent to prevent non-specific binding. The paper also describes the use of quantitative PCR (qPCR) as a method of assaying the target virus. The issue also contains two other MIP papers.

Figure. 2 Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics inner front cover, featuring the paper by Zink et al.

The 21st May edition (Vol. 20, Issue 19) of the RSC journal Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics features the (open access) paper by Zink et al. "Virtually imprinted polymers (VIPs): understanding molecularly templated materials via molecular dynamics simulations" (DOI: 10.1039/C7CP08284C) on its inside front cover. This paper describes "an innovative theoretical concept using fully atomistic molecular dynamics simulations for modeling molecular templating processes ... yielding virtually imprinted polymers (VIPs)" The template used in the simulations was 17β-estradiol. The VIPs produced in the simulation were applied in modeled chromatographic experiments and showed selectivity for the template. The issue also contains a companion article "Efficient prediction of suitable functional monomers for molecular imprinting via local density of states calculations" (DOI: 10.1039/C7CP08283E). Congratulations to the authors of all three papers!

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Mike