Stable conductive and biocompatible scaffold development using graphene oxide (GO) doped polyaniline (PANi)

Abstract

While camphorsulfonic acid (CSA) has been introduced as a common dopant of polyaniline (PANi), detachment of CSA from PANi reduces cell proliferation as a function of resultant acidic media. Herein, Graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets due to their biocompatible nature and long pairs of electrons on oxygen atoms had been employed as a dopant. The corresponding particles were imbedded in PANi scaffold at a biocompatible concentration and the composite scaffold of PANi-NPs were modified using plasma treatment to obtain hydrophilic surface for cells attachment. GO nanoparticles kept the interaction with PANi in physiological pH and hence, the cell proliferation on composite scaffold showed optimum value of biocompatibility compared to non-composite and control group. Also Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) assay confirmed the electrostatic/hydrogen bonds between GO nanosheets and PANi. The better cell adhesion, higher gene expression and stronger positive result of protein markers with composite scaffold exposed efficient interactions of GO nanoparticles with PANi over cell studies process.