The present invention relates to imprinted polymer nanoparticles. In particular, the present invention provides imprinted polymer nanoparticles polymerized in the presence of a target molecule (e.g., peptide), wherein the imprinted polymer nanoparticles comprise vinyl, acryl, and/or methacryl monomers, wherein the monomers have affinity for the target molecule. The present invention also relates to methods of using imprinted polymer nanoparticles in biomacromolecular purification methods (e.g., to purify monoclonal antibodies or hormones), in toxin elimination methods (e.g., hemoperfusion), in diagnostics, in research, as well as in therapeutic methods (e.g., therapeutic methods where antisera or monoclonal antibodies are normally employed).
