Investigation of metal ion interaction with a lipid cubic phase using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy

Three-Dimensional Printable Conductive Semi-Interpenetrating Polymer Network Hydrogel for Neural Tissue Applications

Intrinsically conducting polymers (ICPs) are widely used to fabricate biomaterials; their application in neural tissue engineering, however, is severely limited because of their hydrophobicity and insufficient mechanical properties. For these reasons, soft conductive polymer hydrogels (CPHs) are recently developed, resulting in a water-based system with tissue-like mechanical, biological, and electrical properties. The strategy of incorporating ICPs as a conductive component into CPHs is recently explored by synthesizing the hydrogel around ICP chains, thus forming a semi-interpenetrating polymer network (semi-IPN). In this work, a novel conductive semi-IPN hydrogel is designed and synthesized. The hybrid hydrogel is based on a poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-N-isopropylmethacrylamide) hydrogel where polythiophene is introduced as an ICP to provide the system with good electrical properties. The fabrication of the hybrid hydrogel in an aqueous medium is made possible by modifying and synthesizing the monomers of polythiophene to ensure water solubility. The morphological, chemical, thermal, electrical, electrochemical, and mechanical properties of semi-IPNs were fully investigated. Additionally, the biological response of neural progenitor cells and mesenchymal stem cells in contact with the conductive semi-IPN was evaluated in terms of neural differentiation and proliferation. Lastly, the potential of the hydrogel solution as a 3D printing ink was evaluated through the 3D laser printing method. The presented results revealed that the proposed 3D printable conductive semi-IPN system is a good candidate as a scaffold for neural tissue applications.

Interaction of anions with lipid cubic phase membranes, an electrochemical impedance study

HYPOTHESIS

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy is useful to monitor anionic interactions with a Lipid Cubic Phase, as previously demonstrated for cationic interaction (Khani Meynaq et al., 2016). It was expected that the smaller hydrophilic anions, acetate and chloride, would interact differently than the large tryptophan anion with its hydrophobic tail.

EXPERIMENT

The impedance measurements enabled estimation of resistances and capacitances of a freestanding lipid cubic phase membrane at exposure to 4 and 40 mM solutions of NaCl, NaOAc and NaTrp. Small-angle X-ray scattering was used for cubic phase identification and to track structural changes within the cubic phase when exposed to the different electrolytes.

FINDINGS

The membrane resistance increases at exposure to the electrolytes in the order Cl^- < OAc^- < Trp^-. The membrane resistance decreases with time at exposure to the hydrophilic anions and increases with time at Trp^- exposure. The membrane capacitances were lower for NaTrp compared to NaCl and NaOAc at the corresponding concentrations which is consistent with the results from SAXRD. It is concluded that Trp^- ions do not enter the aqueous channels of the cubic phase but are strongly adsorbed to the membrane/electrolyte interface leading to large alteration of the lipid phase structure and a high membrane resistance.

Cationic interaction with phosphatidylcholine in a lipid cubic phase studied with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and small angle X-ray scattering

HYPOTHESIS

Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) can be used to investigate cationic interaction with the choline headgroup in the ternary system of monoolein/dioleoylphosphatidylcholine/water (MO/DOPC/H₂O).

EXPERIMENTS

EIS was used to estimate the resistance and capacitance of a freestanding membrane of a lipid cubic phase (LCP). The membrane was formed in a small cylindrical aperture separating two compartments, containing one Pt electrode each. The impedance experiments were carried out in a two electrode setup with electrolyte solutions made of KCl, CsCl, MgCl₂ and CaCl₂ filling the compartments at two different ionic strength. Small angle X-ray diffraction (SAXRD) was used to establish the structure and cell unit parameters of the LCP.

FINDINGS

The interpretation of ionic interaction with phosphatidylcholine was based on estimated membrane resistances and capacitances from EIS measurements. The magnitude of cationic interaction with the lipid headgroup in the water channels is correlated to the membrane resistance that increases in the order Cs⁺ < K⁺ < Mg²⁺ < Ca²⁺ following the Hofmeister direct series and also reflecting the order of intrinsic binding constants. The membrane capacitance and SAXRD results are discussed as an effect of cationic interaction and it was possible to observe both swelling and condensing effects. The stability of the cubic phase throughout the experiments was confirmed by SAXRD.

Aspects on mediated glucose oxidation at a supported cubic phase

A supported liquid crystalline cubic phase housing glucose oxidase on an electrode surface has been suggested as bio-anode in a biofuel. The purpose of this investigation is to clarify some aspect on the mediated enzymatic oxidation of glucose in such a bio-anode where the mediator ferrocene-carboxylic acid and glucose were dissolved in the solution. The enzyme glucose oxidase was housed in the water channels of the mono-olein cubic phase. The system was investigated with cyclic voltammetry at different scan rates and the temperature was varied between 15°C and 30°C. The diffusion coefficient of the mediator and also the film resistance was estimated showing a large decrease in the mass-transport properties as the temperature was decreased. The current from mediated oxidation of glucose at the electrode surface increased with decreasing film thickness. The transport of the mediator in the cubic phase was the rate-limiting step in the overall reaction, where the oxidation of glucose took place at the outer surface of the cubic phase.