By: Stephan Barcikowski
Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V., Germany
Particular GmbH, Germany
Nanomaterials provide an enormous potential for surface coatings, polymer composites coatings as well as new therapeutic methods and medical products. The basis of these new products is nanofunctionalization, which can be subdivided into three different effects. Basis of the functionalization is either a polymer or metallic material which gets additional strength or bioactivity by adding nanoscale components. These components can be nanomodified surfaces, bioactive nanocomposites, and nanoparticle bioconjugates. While surface modification is based on roughness and wettability effects, biochemical effects due to released metal ions are the main driver for nanocomposites. Laser-generated bioconjugated nanoparticles can be used as nanomarkers for drug targeting resulting in a biophysical effect.