Synthesis and characterization of electrically conducting polymers for regenerative engineering applications: sulfonated ionic membranes

摘要: Conductive polymers have found extensive application in fuel cells, sensors and more recently as scaffolds for tissueand organ regeneration. Scaffolds that can transmit electrical impulses been shown to be beneficial inregeneration of tissues like muscle nerve are electroactive nature. Most cellular events cellfunctions regulated by ion movement, their imbalance is the cause several diseases. We report synthesisand characterization sulfonated poly(methyl vinyl ether-alt-maleic anhydride) (PMVEMA), poly(etherether ketone) (PEEK), poly(ether sulfone) (PES) poly(phenylene oxide) (PPO) evaluate potential tis-sue The ionic conductive property stems from presence sulfonic groups on polymer back-bone. structure was confirmed using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy membranehydrophicity determined water contact angle measurement. conductivity these sulfonatedmembranes 53.55, 35.39 29.51mS/cm SPPO, SPEEK SPMVEMA, respectively. Theconductivity directly proportional acid content backbone. membranesnamely SPMVEMA demonstrated superior cell adhesion properties (~7–10 fold higher) than cellsseeded onto tissue culture polystyrene. membranes exhibited static rangeof 70–76°. supported proliferation human skin fibroblasts over 14days asevidencedbyconfocaland electronmicroscopyimaging.Theionicmaterials reportedinthisstudymayserveasscaf-folds a variety healing drug delivery applications. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.Keywords: Electrically conducting polymers; Ionic conductance; Nerve regeneration; Muscle Regeneration; Biocompatibility