Hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity: Key aspects for biomedical and technological purposes

In this review we discuss the role of hydrophilic/hydrophobic interplay in several processes involving water–surface interactions. For this purpose, we describe the self-organization architecture of biomacromolecules, the design of artificial biocompatible nano-devices able to deliver poorly water-soluble drugs, and the engineering of packaging materials capable to preserve food from water, dust, and microorganisms contamination. Material properties together with mutual-cooperative interactions play a crucial role to match the complexity of biological environments and desired functional products. Therefore, the comprehension and description of hydrophilic/hydrophobic interactions at molecular level represent the main steps towards the development of new biosystems with improved functionality.