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.