Recent development of antifouling polymers: structure, evaluation, and biomedical applications in nano/micro‐structures

Antifouling polymers have been proven to be vital to many biomedical applications such as medical implants, drug delivery, and biosensing. This review covers the major development of antifouling polymers in the last 2 decades, including the material chemistry, structural factors important to antifouling properties, and how to challenge or evaluate the antifouling performances. We then discuss the applications of antifouling polymers in nano/micro‐biomedical applications in the form of nanoparticles, thin coatings for medical devices (e.g., artificial joint, catheter, wound dressing), and nano/microscale fibers.WIREs Nanomed Nanobiotechnol2014, 6:599–614. doi: 10.1002/wnan.1278 This article is categorized under: Implantable Materials and Surgical Technologies > Nanomaterials and Implants