A method of creating biocompatible polymeric structures includes the steps of: providing a biocompatible polymer including a strained cycloalkyne end group forming a polymeric structure from the biocompatible polymer such that the strained cycloalkyne end group remains on the biocompatible polymer providing an azide tethered molecule and, after forming the polymeric structure, reacting the azide tethered molecule with the cycloalkyne in an azide alkyne cycloaddition reaction to further functionalize the polymeric structure.
