Table 3.
Chemical groups and polymer representatives available for covalent attachment of protein.
| Active chemical group | Polymer representative | Is a protein covalently attached? |
|---|---|---|
| Methylene, –CH2– | Polyethylene | No |
| Double carbon bond, –C=C– | Polystyrene | No |
| Hydroxyl, –OH | Polyvinyl alcohol | No |
| Ether, C–O | Polyethylene terephtalate | No |
| Carbonyl, C=O | Polyethylene terephtalate | No |
| Aldehyde, CH=O | Polyacrolein | No |
| Carboxyl, –COOH | Polymethacrylic acid | No |
| Free radical, R• | No known example | ? |
| Combination of all these groups | PIII treatment of polyethylene | Yes |