Immobilization of Biomolecules and Cells on and Within Synthetic Polymeric Hydrogels

This chapter reviews the preparation and surface characterization of hydrogels. It discusses applications of hydrogels containing immobilized biomolecules and cells. Biomolecules and cells can be immobilized on and within many different supports using a variety of techniques. There are three ways to prepare hydrogels for the immobilization of biomolecules and cells: bulk polymerization, grafting to a support, and conversion of existing polymers. There are several techniques for the immobilization of biomolecules and cells on and within hydrogels. They include physical entrapment, electrostatic attraction, physical adsorption with or without cross-linking, and chemical bonding. The entrapment method of immobilization is based on the occlusion of biomolecules or cells within a constraining hydrogel which has a tight enough structure to prevent the species from diffusing rapidly into the surrounding medium. Immobilized biomolecules and cells on and within hydrogels can be used in synthetic reactions for production of bioenergy, organic acids, amino acids, and drugs.