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The United Nations (UN) estimates that more than one billion people in this world do not have access to safe drinking water due to microbial hazards and it kills more than 7.6 million children every year via waterborne diseases. Driven by the need for the removal and inactivation of waterborne pathogens in drinking water, we report the chemical design and details of microscopic characterization of a bio-conjugated chitosan attached carbon nanotube based three dimensional (3D) nanoporous architecture, which has the capability for effective separation and complete disinfection of waterborne pathogens from environmental water samples. In the reported design, chitosan, a biodegradable antimicrobial polysaccharide with an architecture-forming ability has been used for the formation of 3D pores as channels for water passage, as well as to increase the permeability on the inner and outer architectures for killing Rotavirus and Shigella waterborne pathogens. On the other hand, due to their large surface area, CNTs have been wrapped by chitosan to enhance the adsorption capability of the architecture for the separation and removal of pathogens from water. The reported data show that the anti- Rotavirus VP7 antibody and LL-37 antimicrobial peptide conjugated chitosan–CNT architecture can be used for efficient separation, identification and 100% eradication of Rotavirus and Shigella waterborne pathogens from water samples of different sources. A detailed mechanism for the separation and inactivation of waterborne pathogens using the bio-conjugated chitosan based 3D architecture has been discussed using microscopic and spectroscopic studies. Reported experimental data demonstrate that the multifunctional bio-conjugated 3D architecture has good potential for use in waterborne pathogen separation and inactivation technology. 

Abstract Molecular structuring of soft matter with precise arrangements over multiple hierarchical levels, especially on polymer surfaces, and enabling their post‐synthetic modulation has tremendous potential for application in molecular engineering and interfacial science. Here, recent research and developments in design strategies for structurally controlled polymer surfaces via cyclophane‐based chemical vapor deposition (CVD) polymerization with precise control over chemical functionalities and post‐CVD fabrication via orthogonal surface functionalization that facilitates the formation of designable biointerfaces are summarized. Particular discussion about innovative approaches for the templated synthesis of shape‐controlled CVD polymers, ranging from 1D to 3D architecture, including inside confined nanochannels, nanofibers/nanowires synthesis into an anisotropic media such as liquid crystals, and CVD polymer nanohelices via hierarchical chirality transfer across multiple length scales is provided. Aiming at multifunctional polymer surfaces via CVD copolymerization of multiple precursors, the structural and functional design of the fundamental [2.2]paracyclophane (PCP) precursor molecules, that is, functional CVD monomer chemistry is also described. Technologically advanced and innovative surface deposition techniques toward topological micro‐ and nanostructuring, including microcontact printing, photopatterning, photomask, and lithographic techniques such as dip‐pen nanolithography, showcasing research from the authors’ laboratories as well as other's relevant important findings in this evolving field are highlighted that have introduced new programmable CVD polymerization capabilities. Perspectives, current limitations, and future considerations are provided.