Protein/polymer matrix systems, applications

Photopolymerizable systems have received a lot of recent attention in biomaterial applications due to the ability to rapidly form a solid polymer (gel) from a liquid precursor solution (monomer or macromer) with spatial and temporal control under physiological conditions. The development of cytocompatible systems has provided the ability to form materials in the presence of proteins, cells, and tissues to allow for minimally invasive biomaterial-based therapies. In particular, photopolymerizable systems have been used extensively as dental restoratives, controlled microenvironments to study cellular behavior and develop tissue substitutes, and to encapsulate growth fartors and cytokines in a polymer matrix for controlled release applications. 

It appears pointless to discuss the validity of these findings today, but it is noteworthy that the procedure was in essence similar to what today is called bioimprinting [20,21], a technique whereby a protein or other biopolymer is used as the matrix for molecular imprinting instead of an abiotic polymer. Moreover, the apparent success in preparing antibodies in vitro led Pauling to initiate an investigation of the application of the selective theory in an abiotic system, as is evident from the following recollection ... 

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