A simple one-step modification of various materials for introducing effective multi-functional groups
Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 7, 2026

Modification and Functionalization of the Guanidine Group by Tailor-made Precursors
Published on: April 27, 2017
Si Chen1, Xin Li1, Zhilu Yang1
1Key Lab. of Advanced Technology for Materials of Education Ministry, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, China.
Abstract:
Covalent immobilization of various biomolecules is a desired strategy for bio-multifunctional surface modification. Multi-functionalization of a material surface is considered to be the premise of immobilizing a variety of biomolecules. However, currently adopted methods, used to introduce proper reactive functional groups on material surfaces, mostly are hard to be carried out and frequently can only introduce insufficient functional groups. In this work, we successfully develop the films (GAHD films) prepared via the simple copolymerization of gallic acid (GA) and hexamethylenediamine (HD), which can be deposited on different kinds of material surfaces including metals, ceramics and polymers by a one-step dip-coating method. Moreover, these copolymerized GAHD films possess high concentration of multi-functional groups like carboxyl (COOH), primary amine (-NH2) and quinone groups on the surfaces. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results prove either the occurrence of Michael addition reaction, Schiff base reaction in the film-forming process, or the existence of COOH, NH2 and quinone groups on the surfaces. The maximum contents of carboxyl and amine on the GAHD film are 24.9 nmol/cm(2) and 31.7 nmol/cm(2) respectively. After dynamical immersion for 30 days, slight swellings can be observed, which reveals that the GAHD films possess good stability. Moreover, Heparin (Hep), fibronectin (Fn) and laminin (Ln) are successfully immobilized on the GAHD film surfaces. The results of cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and rhodamine fluorescence photograph indicate that the 1:1.62 GAHD film has good cytocompatibility.
Related Concept Videos
Protecting Groups for Aldehydes and Ketones: Introduction
Introduction to Functional Groups
Functional groups are group of atoms with specific chemical properties that occur within organic molecules and sometimes denoted as “R”. Functional groups are found along the carbon backbone of macromolecules can form chains or rings of carbon atoms. Functional groups can “functionalize” a compound by enabling it to adopt different physical and chemical properties.
Types of common functional groups
The table below summarizes some of the major functional groups in organic chemistry. (The...
Overview of Advanced Functional Groups
Functional groups are groups of atoms with specific chemical properties that occur within organic molecules and are sometimes denoted as “R”. Functional groups can “functionalize” a compound by enabling it to adopt different physical and chemical properties.
Types of Advanced Functional Groups
The table below summarizes some of the major functional groups in organic chemistry.
Protection of Alcohols
Protection
It defines a protecting group as the masking agent to make the more reactive species inert to a given set of conditions. This concept is depicted via the illustration of liquid flow through different outlets in an assembly of pipes. The analogy helps to understand the role...
Preparation of Alcohols via Substitution Reactions
Alcohols can be synthesized from alkyl halides via nucleophilic substitution reactions. The highly polar carbon-halogen bond in the substrate makes halide a good leaving group. The hydroxide ion or water can act as a nucleophile to take the place of halide and form an alcohol. The substitution reactions occur via two different reaction pathways, SN1 or SN2, depending on the nature of carbon attached to the halide.
Primary alcohols are synthesized from primary alkyl halides, and the...
Acetals and Thioacetals as Protecting Groups for Aldehydes and Ketones
In the presence of multiple functional groups, when selective reduction of one group over the other is desired, groups like aldehydes and ketones that form acetals...

