A simple methodology for imparting affinity sites for adenosine triphosphate (ATP) on the surface of polyurethane (PU) film is discussed. It is widely known that, through oxidation, a thin layer conjugated polymer can be coated onto many polymeric substrates. This possibility is explored in this report. 3-Amino phenyl boronic acid was polymerized in the presence of ATP as template using ammonium per sulfate. A thin layer of polyamino phenyl boronic acid was coated onto the surface of PU film immersed in the solution during the reaction. The coated layer showed remarkably high affinity toward ATP and equilibrium adsorption was attained rapidly in contrast to free standing molecularly imprinted polymers in which equilibrium adsorption is normally attained after several hours. The imprinted layer also showed a high degree of selectivity toward ATP compared to adenosine diphosphate (ADP). The approach is simple and affinity sites for any water soluble molecules can virtually be created on the surface of polymers of interest. (C) 2004 Wiley Periodicals.