Polymers containing isonitrile functional groups as supports for the covalent fixation of biologically active molecules.

1. Isonitrile derivatives of synthetic polyamides, polyesters and polyalcohols, of polysaccharides such as cellulose, cross-linked dextran and agarose, linear dextran and of cross-linked and linear polyacrylamide were prepared. 2) Proteins and low-molecular-weight ligands were bound covalently to these materials by four-component reactions involving the -NC function on the polymer, amino or carboxyl groups deriving from the ligand, aldehyde and the complementary fourth component (-COOH or - NH2) being added to the aqueous reaction medium. 3) Supports of modified surface properties could be prepared by grafting of water-soluble macromolecules containing -NC groups onto preformed polymeric structures. 4) The isonitrile functional groups on polymers could be transformed into other types of functional groups by simple one-step reactions.