3D Hybrid Scaffolds Based on PEDOT:PSS/MWCNT Composites.

Akhila K Jayaram,Ellasia Tan,Charalampos Pitsalidis,Michael F L De Volder,Roisin M Owens,Ji-Seon Kim,Chrysanthi-Maria Moysidou

doi:10.3389/fchem.2019.00363

Abstract

Conducting polymer scaffolds combine the soft-porous structures of scaffolds with the electrical properties of conducting polymers. In most cases, such functional systems are developed by combining an insulating scaffold matrix with electrically conducting materials in a 3D hybrid network. However, issues arising from the poor electronic properties of such hybrid systems, hinder their application in many areas. This work reports on the design of a 3D electroactive scaffold, which is free of an insulating matrix. These 3D polymer constructs comprise of a water soluble conducting polymer (PEDOT:PSS) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The insertion of the MWCNTs in the 3D polymer matrix directly contributes to the electron transport efficiency, resulting in a 7-fold decrease in resistivity values. The distribution of CNTs, as characterized by SEM and Raman spectroscopy, further define the micro- and nano-structural topography while providing active sites for protein attachment, thereby rendering the system suitable for biological/sensing applications. The resulting scaffolds, combine high porosity, mechanical stability and excellent conducting properties, thus can be suitable for a variety of applications ranging from tissue engineering and biomedical devices to (bio-) energy storage.

Highlights

Conducting polymer (CP) scaffolds belong to a novel class of scaffold materials that combine the softness of the polymer scaffolds and the electrical properties of conducting polymers (Lee, 2013; Wan et al, 2015; Zhou et al, 2018)
The present study builds on our previous work (Pitsalidis et al, 2018a), aiming to systematically investigate the effect of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) addition on the PEDOT:PSS scaffold properties. As such we describe the fabrication and characterization of 3D conducting polymer scaffolds based on oxidized highaspect ratio MWCNTs and PEDOT:PSS mixtures
The good dispersibility of oxidized MWCNTs in water facilitates their incorporation within the polymeric matrix

Summary

Introduction

Conducting polymer (CP) scaffolds belong to a novel class of scaffold materials that combine the softness of the polymer scaffolds and the electrical properties of conducting polymers (Lee, 2013; Wan et al, 2015; Zhou et al, 2018). Their unique set of features, including electrical conductivity, compatibility with tissue and a 3D porous structure that can take any desired form and shape, is reminiscent of their organic nature (Arash et al, 2014; Balint et al, 2014; Wang et al, 2014; Guex et al, 2017). Resistivity as low as 106 −1 cm−1 was reported in single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) (Purewal et al, 2007), while multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) have shown resistivity of 5 × 106

Methods

Results

Conclusion