Altering the Hydrophobic/Hydrophilic Nature of Bioplastic Surfaces for Biomedical Applications

Biologically produced polymers and that ex situ synthesized from biogenic precursors have captured the attention of researchers and industrialists due to their diversity, biodegradability, biocompatibility, and renewability. They find diverse applications in enormous fields of science and technology including packaging, foods, textiles, water treatment, cosmetics, sensing, and microelectronics. The chemistry of surfaces is a window for originating new properties and opportunities. Based on their surface affinity, bioplastics may be either hydrophobic or hydrophilic which directs their potential applications. Their surface chemistry may be tailored by imparting desirable functionalities for improving their physicomechanical properties. This can be achieved through different physical, chemical, and biological approaches. Such bioplastics with improved hydrophilicity are desirable in the fields of medical science, nanotechnology, sensing, and so forth. The objective of the present chapter is to present recent developments in tuning the surface properties of bioplastics using different approaches for biomedical applications.