Chromatography 2014, 1, 24-53; doi:10.3390/chromatography1010024 OPEN ACCESS chromatography ISSN 2227-9075 www.mdpi.com/journal/chromatography Review Post-Polymerization Modifications of Polymeric Monolithic Columns: A Review Sinéad Currivan and Pavel Jandera * Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemical Technology, University of Pardubice, Studentská 573, Pardubice 532 10, Czech Republic; E-Mail:
[email protected] * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail:
[email protected]; Tel.: +420-460-037-023. Received: 18 December 2013; in revised form: 16 January 2014 / Accepted: 17 January 2014 / Published: 10 February 2014 Abstract: The vast cache of methods used in polymeric monolithic column modification is presented herein, with specific attention to post-polymerization modification reactions. The modification of polymeric monolithic columns is defined and can include the modification of pre-existing surface groups, the addition of polymeric chains or indeed the addition of structures such as nano-particles and nano-structures. The use of these modifications can result in the specific patterning of monoliths, useful in microfluidic device design or in the investigation of modification optimization. Keywords: polymer monoliths; modifications; HPLC; CEC; grafting; click chemistry; hypercross-linking; nano-particles List of Abbreviations: 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulphonic acid AMPS, α, α’-azoisobutyronitrile AIBN, adenosine triphosphate ATP, atom transfer radical polymerization ATRP, benzoyl peroxide