Immobilization of Biomolecules on Plasma-Functionalized Surfaces for Biomedical Applications

Abstract

Immobilization of biomolecules using plasma-tailored surfaces of material has caught attention amongst many interdisciplinary scientists. The non-thermal plasma surface modification technique has evolved itself as a very promising candidate for biomedical applications. The daunting challenge in biocompatibility with respect to surface chemistry alterations is its intervention with host response in expected biological functions. Distinct features of non-thermal plasma such as dry state process, non-thermolability, presence of energetic reactive species, low cost, and rapid and controlled functionalization have been chosen over conventional surface modification techniques. Advances in immobilization of biomolecules using non-thermal plasma surface modification techniques have paved us the way to achieve the design of biologically inspired materials which can successfully mimic complex biological processes. Various plasma types in different modes such as deposition through chemical attachments (like hydrophilic interaction, ionic or covalent bonding) and graft polymerization have been utilized to rationalize the immobilization applications. Physical entrapment in immobilization applications on various surfaces is highlighted with respect to enzymes and various polymeric or particle surfaces. In this chapter, we have mainly discussed the latest advancements related to immobilization of enzymes, protein and other biomolecules on to the non-thermal plasma-modified surfaces. The important aspect of plasma surface modification is to understand the interaction between plasma-functionalized surface and binding molecules for immobilization applications. Different plasma processes in various modes such as graft polymerization and deposition through chemical attachments (like covalent bonding, ionic or hydrophilic interaction) are discussed in this chapter within the scope of immobilization. This chapter also enlightens about the fundamental understanding on the development of biocompatible surfaces on various polymeric substrates including 3D scaffolds by the use of non-thermal low-pressure and atmospheric pressure plasma-assisted polymerization, which have been subsequently used for immobilization of various biomolecules for advanced biomedical applications.