Nanoscale Functional Polymer Coatings for Biointerface Engineering

Abstract

Functionalized poly(p-xylylenes) constitute a versatile class of reactive polymers that can be prepared in a solventless process via chemical vapor deposition (CVD) polymerization. The resulting ultra-thin coatings are typically pinhole-free and can be conformally deposited onto a wide range of substrates and materials. More importantly, equipped functional groups can serve as anchoring sites to tailor biointerface properties via bioconjugation of biomolecules, which surface functions can be activated through a simple design of functionally terminated molecules, and the corresponding biological responses are efficiently and accurately manipulated. On the other hand, accessibility of multifunctional and gradient surfaces is also achieved by using these polymers to perform simultaneous manipulation of multiple types of biomolecules in a topologically and chemically confined manner. These multifunctional techniques can be complimentarily used, and provide access to precisely confined microenvironments on flat and curved geometries regardless of the underlying material used. These advanced polymers provide a technology platform that creates active and long-term control over surface properties, and may lead to improved mimicry of biological systems for sophisticated bio-functional modifications. ? 2014 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. All rights reserved.