About this Research Topic
Polymer materials play a crucial role as substrate platforms in the fabrication of devices for many biotechnological applications. The success of these materials should be credited to their malleable surface properties as well as the adaptation of conjugation reactions to the material surface. The biointerface properties of these polymer materials—which include the ability to control the presentation of biomolecules with precisely defined chemical topology, smart response with respect to environmental stimuli, multiple functions that are simultaneously activated, and surface gradients—lead to successful device/material performance and efficacy.
Furthermore, biomolecular engineering technologies have provided the key to success in using these polymer materials. The use of physical approaches or chemical means to install biological functions onto polymer materials is of interest within this area of research. From a physical point of view, the ability to control biomolecules at the solid/liquid interface requires adequate knowledge and understanding of surface interactions, transport phenomena of interacting molecules, interactions with external stimuli, and surface functional groups. From a chemical point of view, the conjugation reactions seek a fast reaction time, mild reaction conditions, and more importantly, the specificity to achieve successful conjugation in the vast array of functionalities present in biological microenvironments.
Recently-demonstrated and promising concepts have focused on the creation of multiple surface functionalities on polymer materials. The approaches consider the physical and chemical surface properties while delivering cascading and/or simultaneous activities to respond to sophisticated bioenvironments. Moreover, the need to precisely incorporate biomolecules at specific locations on a micro/nano scale, i.e., in confined micro-/nano-domains, and to induce topographically derived responses toward biological environments, has also become essential. These concepts have fueled modern schemes for the design of prospective polymer materials for biological applications as well as more advanced developments in biointerface science.
This Research Topic welcomes discussions related to aspects of polymer materials, including the following:
(1) active, dynamic, and adaptive biointerfaces
(2) smart and responsive biointerfaces
(3) chemistry of biointerfaces
(4) advances in characterization of biointerfaces
(5) localization/patterning of functions at biointerfaces
Encouraged forms of submission include original research papers, reviews, and perspective articles.
Furthermore, biomolecular engineering technologies have provided the key to success in using these polymer materials. The use of physical approaches or chemical means to install biological functions onto polymer materials is of interest within this area of research. From a physical point of view, the ability to control biomolecules at the solid/liquid interface requires adequate knowledge and understanding of surface interactions, transport phenomena of interacting molecules, interactions with external stimuli, and surface functional groups. From a chemical point of view, the conjugation reactions seek a fast reaction time, mild reaction conditions, and more importantly, the specificity to achieve successful conjugation in the vast array of functionalities present in biological microenvironments.
Recently-demonstrated and promising concepts have focused on the creation of multiple surface functionalities on polymer materials. The approaches consider the physical and chemical surface properties while delivering cascading and/or simultaneous activities to respond to sophisticated bioenvironments. Moreover, the need to precisely incorporate biomolecules at specific locations on a micro/nano scale, i.e., in confined micro-/nano-domains, and to induce topographically derived responses toward biological environments, has also become essential. These concepts have fueled modern schemes for the design of prospective polymer materials for biological applications as well as more advanced developments in biointerface science.
This Research Topic welcomes discussions related to aspects of polymer materials, including the following:
(1) active, dynamic, and adaptive biointerfaces
(2) smart and responsive biointerfaces
(3) chemistry of biointerfaces
(4) advances in characterization of biointerfaces
(5) localization/patterning of functions at biointerfaces
Encouraged forms of submission include original research papers, reviews, and perspective articles.
Keywords: Biointerface, Biomolecule, Surface modification, Multifunctional, Surface science
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
