CVD Polymer Surfaces for Biotechnology and Biomedicine

Recent developments in biotechnology and biomedicine have been boosted by the rational design of devices with biomimetic functions, specific cellular responses, or tissue-mediated biomolecular recognition. Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) polymers, in particular, are also easily patterned and shaped, so they can be readily integrated on different types of substrates and spatially resolved biodevices, at room temperature, without altering the mechanical properties of the bulk materials. The translation of the capabilities of CVD polymers finds direct application in device fabrication (e.g., biosensors, drug delivery system, biological microelectrochemical systems (BioMEMS)), tissue engineering, and biopassivating and antimicrobial coating deposition on clinically used biomaterials. CVD surface modification techniques currently applied in biomedicine and biotechnology include plasma-enhanced CVD (PECVD), vapor-phase polymerization (VPP), initiated CVD (iCVD), oxidative CVD (oCVD), and parylene. The diversity of applications for CVD polymers is anticipated to expand for the new generation of functional surfaces and devices.