IMMOBILISATION OF BIOACTIVE MOLECULES IN POLYMERIC SUPPORTS: PRINCIPLES, METHODS AND APPLICATIONS

This book provides a focused and comprehensive overview of the immobilisation of bioactive molecules within polymeric supports, emphasizing the fundamental principles that govern stability, activity, and controlled functionality. It explains how polymer composition, architecture, surface chemistry, and morphology influence biomolecular performance, and describes major immobilisation strategies including adsorption, covalent binding, entrapment, encapsulation, and crosslinking. The text integrates these methods with advanced characterization techniques to establish clear structure-function relationships. Applications in drug delivery, enzyme stabilization, biosensing, antimicrobial systems, and environmental remediation are highlighted through practical examples. The book also discusses current challenges such as biocompatibility, long-term stability, scalability, and regulatory aspects, and examines emerging trends including smart polymers, stimuli-responsive systems, nanostructured materials, and sustainable approaches shaping next-generation biomaterials.