Abstract
The aspiration to interact living cells with electronics challenges researchers to develop materials working at the interface of these two distinct environments. A successful interfacing coating should exhibit both biocompatibility and desired functionality of a bio-integrated device. Taking into account biodiversity, the tissue interface should be fine-tuned to the specific requirements of the bioelectronic systems. In this study, we pointed to electrochemical doping of conducting polymers as a strategy enabling the efficient manufacturing of interfacing platforms, in which features could be easily adjusted. Consequently, we fabricated conducting films based on a poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) matrix, with properties modulated through doping with selected ions: PSS− (poly(styrene sulfonate)), ClO4− (perchlorate), and PF6− (hexafluorophosphate). Striving to extend the knowledge on the relationships governing the dopant effect on PEDOT films, the samples were characterized in terms of their chemical, morphological, and electrochemical properties. To investigate the impact of the materials on attachment and growth of cells, rat neuroblastoma B35 cells were cultured on their surface and analyzed using scanning electron microscopy and biological assays. Eventually, it was shown that through the choice of a dopant and doping conditions, PEDOT-based materials can be efficiently tuned with diversified physicochemical properties. Therefore, our results proved electrochemical doping of PEDOT as a valuable strategy facilitating the development of promising tissue interfacing materials with characteristics tailored as required.
Highlights
Electroactive interfacing of living cells constitutes the core of bioelectronic applications whose strategy is based on a cell–substrate communication
Three PEDOT-based materials were fabricated by electrochemical polymerization of EDOT in the presence of different counterions, namely PSS −
Our results distinctly demonstrated the powerful impact of a dopant nature on the overall film characteristics, and served as an incentive for detecting the potential of alternative dopants, other than commonly applied PSS, in the design of bioelectronic devices
Summary
Electroactive interfacing of living cells constitutes the core of bioelectronic applications whose strategy is based on a cell–substrate communication By this approach, striving to enable a controlled flow of information between the recipients, it is possible to interact electronics with a biological matter [1]. CNTs and poly(glycerol sebacate urethane)) [9], and platforms for tissue engineering and organoid approaches (PEDOT:PSS crosslinked via glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane) [10] Another substantial reason for its attractiveness for bioelectronics, in addition to the palette of advantageous properties, is found in the ability to tune its physicochemical characteristics. PSS− (poly(styrenesulfonate)), ClO4 − (perchlorate), and PF6 − (hexafluorophosphate) were selected To discuss how these different counterions affected morphological, biological, and electrical parameters of a PEDOT matrix, doped polymer films were investigated in terms of their conductivity, capacitance, chemical composition, surface morphology, and biocompatibility
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