Surface modification to improve biocompatibility

Significant progress has been made over the past few decades in the development of biomaterials. With our knowledge ever improving, the concept of surface biocompatibility has become drastically evolved. Current understanding of surface biocompatibility is well supported by mechanistic processes at molecular and cellular level. Through a select list of exemplar cases of surface modifications and characterization of cell responses, this article aims to place surface biocompatibility in the context of well-corroborated molecular and cellular interactions across the interface between live tissue and nonliving materials. Such concerted studies will ultimately lead to the development of artificial surfaces that offer fuller functionality and that could become better disguised under the host detection.