Core-shell structural surface imprinting microspheres were prepared by a simple and effective method. This method combined reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) with distillation precipitation polymerization RAFT reagent-containing microspheres on the surface. Tetramethylammonium asparagine ([N-1111]Asn) ionic liquid or L-Asn, 4-vinylpyridine (4-VP), ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA), and RAFT reagent-containing microspheres on the surface were used as template, functional monomer, cross-linker, and chain transfer agent (CTA), respectively. Two kinds of imprinted polymer were obtained, namely, AsnIL-MIPs and Asn-MIPs. The morphology and structure of the polymers were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The binding and selective recognition properties of L-Asn and its analogs were investigated in aqueous solution. Compared with L-Asn as template molecule, AsnIL-MIPs showed faster binding speed and better selective recognition. The binding reached saturation after 1 h, and the selective recognition factor (a) reached 5.28 and 4.26 for the template against L-Asp and L-Arg, respectively. AsnIL-MIPs showed an improved binding rate, binding affinity, and significantly increased recognition. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.