The Reactions of Bioconjugation

This chapter provides an overview of the major reactions used in bioconjugation techniques. Each reaction is briefly discussed and illustrated, while providing key references from the literature or other parts of the book where they have been used for bioconjugation purposes. These reactions are further organized by the general reactivity or functional group that is involved in the associated conjugation process, such as amine reactions, thiol reactions, carboxylate reactions, hydroxyl reactions, aldehyde and ketone reactions, active hydrogen reactions, photochemical reactions, and cycloaddition reactions. Knowledge of the reactions of bioconjugation as discussed in this chapter combined with knowledge of the targets of bioconjugation and their functional groups as discussed in Chapter 2 can provide a firm foundation for making virtually any bioconjugate imaginable.