Functionalization
Functionalization is the addition of functional groups onto the surface of a material by chemical synthesis methods. The functional group added can be subjected to ordinary synthesis methods to attach virtually any kind of organic compound onto the surface. This includes small particles or polymer chains.
“Functionalization is employed for surface modification of industrial materials in order to achieve desired surface properties such as water repellent coatings for automobile windshields and non-biofouling, hydrophilic coatings for contact lenses. In addition, functional groups are used to covalently link functional molecules to the surface of chemical and biochemical devices such as microarrays and microelectromechanical systems.”
“Catalysts can be attached to a material that has been functionalized. For example, silica is functionalized with an alkyl silicone, wherein the alkyl contains an amine functional group. A ligand such as an EDTA fragment is synthesized onto the amine, and a metal cation is complexed into the EDTA fragment. The EDTA is not adsorbed onto the surface, but connected by a permanent chemical bond.”
“Functional groups are also used to covalently link molecules such as fluorescent dyes, nanoparticles, proteins, DNA, and other compounds of interest for a variety of applications such as sensing and basic chemical research.”
Wikipedia, Functional Groups, 11/3/2010
Functionalization by Click Reactions
Functionalization of Carbon Nanotubes (CNT)
Functionalization of Fibers
Functionalization of Graphene
Functionalization of Particles
Silane Functionalization
Recent US Patents
9/7/2010
7,790,835
Method of preparing maleimide functionalized polymers
McManus et al of Nektar Therapeutics has developed imide functionalized polymers capable of attaching to water soluble polymers. (RDC 12/3/2010)
7,790,810
Vinyl functional olefin polymers
Coats and Hustad of Cornel University have developed functional polyolefins by copolymerizing olefin monomers is hexadiene using a 2-1 insertion catalyst. (RDC 12/3/2010)
9/14/2010
7,795,355
Preparation of functional polymers
Matyjaszewski et al of Carnegie Mellon University produced functionalized polymers using click chemistry on polymers. First a functional polymer is prepared by controlled radical polymerization. A polymer was formed with at least one nitrile group which was reacted with an azide to form tetrazole ring. This group is capable of a click chemistry reaction to form a variety of polymeric structures
9/21/2010
7,799,434
Functionalized polysiloxane polymers
Webster and Ekin of NDSU Research Foundation have functionlized silicone resins by carbamate terminated silicones which can be further combined with function groups such as lactones and hydroxyl groups.
Recent Journal Articles
11/26/2010
Functionalization Conditions of PLGA-PEG-PLGA Copolymer with Itaconic Anhydride
(pages 119–124) Macromolecular Symposia 296 #1 (2010)
Michlovská et al of Brno University of Technology, Czech Republic found that the itaconic anhydride gives copolymer both reactive double bonds and functional carboxylic acid groups essential for the reaction with biological active material. The functionalized macromonomer can be cross-linked either chemically or physically in order to produce new functionalized hydrogel network applicable as biomedical material in tissue engineering. (RDC 11/24/2010)
11/12/2010
Functionalization of Polysulfones by Click Chemistry
(pages 2389–2395) Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics 211 #21 (2010)
Toiserkani et al functionalized polysulfones using copper-catalyzed azide/alkyne click reactions. (RDC 11/10/2010)