Polymer surface modification for the attachment of bioactive compounds

This paper reviews recent advances in the covalent attachment of bioactive compounds to functionalized polymer surfaces including relevant techniques in polymer surface modification such as wet chemical, organosilanization, ionized gas treatments, and UV irradiation. Methods of analysis of biofunctionalized polymer surfaces, including spectral methods (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and others) as well as non-spectral methods (contact angle, dye assays, biological assays, and zeta potential) are also considered. State-of-the-art techniques in covalent conjugation of bioactive compounds to the modified surfaces, such as usage of hydrophilic, bifunctional, and/or branched spacer molecules, are presented. Relevant bioconjugation reagents and chemistries are described and tabulated. Recently reported applications in areas such as biomedicine, biosensors, enzyme reactors, and textiles, all of which utilize a common set of surface bioconjugation techniques to address these diverse needs, are discussed. Finally, challenges to this emerging field of research are critically evaluated.