A Review on Photo-immobilization of Biosignal Molecules Applied for Medical and Biological Applications

Immobilization of biosignal molecules including growth factors and cytokines is important for developing biologically active materials, because these materials will have important effects in targetted cell culture, photo- immobilization of visible-light induced crosslinkable biosealant in direct pulp capping material in the dental field, biosealants in tissue engineering and anti-adhesive agents for preventing tissue adhesions after surgery and design and fabrication of biological scaffold contributed to tissue engineering, photolithography. The photo-immobilization of biosignal molecules has more meanings than only immobilization of an enzyme in a bioreactor or ligand-receptor interactions, because the immobilized biosignal molecules work on cells which have very complex structures and functions. This review discusses so far progresses in immobilization of biosignal molecules including growth factors and cytokines with biological and medical applications. At first we will study on photolithography and cell patterning. Then biosignal molecules, photo-immobilization process and co-immobilization will be reviewed. Since material properties of surfaces directly affect the cellular functions and thereby affecting growth patterns, we will study on biological properties of surfaces such as cell adhesion, cell migration and cell growth. Finally different photo reactive biosystems including UV, visible and laser bio systems will be discussed.