Bioconjugates - From a specialized past to a diverse future

Proteins are the quintessential well-designed macromolecules - functional, specific, biodegradable, and biocompatible. They have been modified with other macromolecules since at least 1952, as researchers have made attempts to immobilize, stabilize, or tune their properties. In this perspective, we discuss the history of protein-polymer conjugates (PPCs), the strategies and challenges in synthesizing, analyzing, and understanding them, and we highlight some exciting works that showcase the capabilities of PPCs when rationally designed using the vast array of polymers and architectures made possible by advances in precision polymerization techniques.