Surface modification of polymers via surface active and reactive end groups

A method of modifying a surface on a polymeric substrate selected from the group consisting of solid synthetic polymers, solid natural polymers, and hydrogels, comprising the steps of:

• fabricating an article from a polymeric body composed of polymeric molecules having first reactive endgroups linked to surface active spacers which surface active spacers comprise endgroups on said polymeric molecules and forming a surface of said first reactive endgroups linked to surface active spacers on said polymeric body;
• contacting the surface of said polymeric body with a compound containing at least one third reactive endgroup and at least one fourth reactive endgroup to react said at least one third reactive endgroup with a first reactive endgroup and thereby link said at least one fourth reactive endgroup to the polymeric molecules by a covalent or ionic bond;
• and
• contacting the resulting surface of said polymeric body with a compound containing at least one second reactive group and at least one surface modifying moiety, selected from the group consisting of bio-active molecules, monomers, oligomers, polymers, organometallic molecules, and metal compounds, to react said at least one second reactive endgroup with said at least one fourth reactive endgroup and thereby link said at least one surface modifying moiety to one of said polymeric molecules by a covalent, coordination, or ionic bond.