Surface modifications and molecular imprinting of polymers in medical and pharmaceutical applications

Recent developments in the field of biomaterials are based on molecular des ign of polymers with improved surface and bulk properties. Novel techniques of surface modification by addition of tethered chains can lead to materia ls with the ability to recognize biological and pharmaceutical compounds. M ethods based on molecular imprinting can increase the recognition capabilit ies of such systems. Chain tethering can also can improve the mucoadhesive behavior of a delivery device and the effectiveness of a drug by allowing t argeting and localization of a drug at a specific site. Acrylic-based hydro gels are well-suited for mucoadhesion due to their flexibility and nonabras ive characteristics which reduce damage-causing attrition to the tissues in contact. However, the adhesive and drug delivery capabilities of these dev ices can continue to be improved as presently known bioadhesive materials a re modified and more bioadhesive materials are discovered. Tethering of lon g PEG chains on PAA hydrogels rind their copolymers can be achieved by graf ting reactions involving thionyl chloride, followed by PEG grafting. The en suing materials exhibit mucoadhesive properties due to enhanced anchoring o f the chains with the mucosa. Theoretical calculations can lead to optimiza tion of Be tethered structure. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science BN. All rights res erved.