Quinone/hydroquinone-functionalized biointerfaces for biological applications from the macro- to nano-scale

Quinones/hydroquinones (Q/HQ) are a class of prototypical redox molecules that play a variety of vital roles in biology, particularly in electron transfer and energy conservation systems. Biointerfaces supported on solid substrates or nanomaterials are widely used as biomimetic platforms that connect biological materials with artificial interfaces. Q/HQ-functionalized biointerfaces provide a new means for understanding the complex behaviors of Q/HQ at the interfaces of biological systems, and for further development of novel biomaterials and biosensors. This tutorial review provides a brief introduction to the recent advances in this field. We begin with the current methods used to functionalize Q/HQ on biointerfaces from the macro-to nano-scale (both solid substrates and nanomaterials), and then discuss their wide biological applications. Particularly exciting applications arise when Q/HQ-functionalized biointerface systems are coupled with biomimetic strategies. These systems can be used as models of other functionalized biointerfaces for biological applications, providing new insights into the future development of this area.