Ag-doped hollow TiO2 microspheres for the selective photo-degradation of bilirubin

•Ag-doped molecularly imprinted hollow TiO2 microspheres were described for the 1st time.•Ag-doped hollow microspheres acquired photocatalytic activity under Vis light irradiation.•Doping mode (syn/post synthesis) was crucial for the success of molecular imprinting.•The increase of degradation rates of template, especially for syn-Ag-doping, was observed.