Surface-functionalized latexes for biotechnological applications

Due to their outstanding properties, surface-functionalized polymer latexes proved to offer suitable colloidal supports in many biotechnological applications. At first, numerous polymerization methods in heterogeneous media, especially in aqueous medium, allow to synthesise a wide variety of polymer particles upon varying particle size, composition and morphology. Secondly, a broad selection of functionalities can be installed to the particle interface due to both the availability of a large amount of functional molecular and macromolecular species and versatility of manufacturing protocols. Surface functionalization with appropriate reactive groups has now become a prerequisite in the handling of polymer particles for biotechnological applications. The immobilization of a hydrophilic and sometimes stimuli-responsive hairy layer as well as the possibility of coating particles with specific ligands (saccharide moieties, lipids, biomolecules) open very attractive potentialities. More elaborated surface-functionalized (nano)particles can take much advantage of novel controlled radical polymerization techniques as well as the immobilization of complex organic or inorganic structures allowing an improved specificity in relevant applications. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.