Design of Polymeric Biomaterials: The "Intermediate Water Concept"

When biomaterials come into contact with biological fluids, water molecules immediately adsorb onto the surface of the materials. To understand the origin of the crucial roles of water molecules in biological interfaces, it is necessary to relate particular states of hydration water to various physicochemical properties of hydrated polymers. Here, advances in the inter-mediate water concept are reviewed. This account provides an overview of the progress made in the design of multi-functional biomedical polymers by controlling the bio-interfacial water states. Using principles of intermediate water, which is common in hydrated biopolymers and only biocompatible synthetic polymers, we found the synthetic methodology to create novel biocompatible polymers moves toward a more high-throughput way.