Versatile Method for Producing 2D and 3D Conductive Biomaterial Composites Using Sequential Chemical and Electrochemical Polymerization

• DOI: 10.1021/acsami.5b07332
• Publication Date: 2015-11-06T17:42:34Z
• Authors: Sean Y. Severt; Nicholas A. Ostro...; Janelle M. Leger; Amanda R. Murphy
• Keywords: Polypyrrole; Biomaterial; In situ polymerization; Biocompatible material

Flexible and conductive biocompatible materials are attractive candidates for a wide range of biomedical applications including implantable electrodes, tissue engineering, controlled drug delivery. Here, we demonstrate that chemical electrochemical polymerization techniques can be combined to create highly versatile silk-conducting polymer (silk-CP) composites with enhanced conductivity stability. Interpenetrating silk-CP were first generated via in situ deposition polypyrrole during pyrrole. These sufficiently serve as working electrodes electropolymerization, which allowed an additional layer CP deposited on the surface. This sequential method was applied both 2D films 3D sponge-like silk scaffolds, producing biomimetic architectures. Overall, this two-step technique expanded available polymers dopants suitable synthesis mechanically robust, biocompatible, silk-based materials.